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Sorry that I seemed to have dropped off the list for a couple of weeks
... I went back and dug through everything that I still have from when I
left the Space Shuttle/IUS program in 1980.  Part of what I came across
were copies of preliminary mission planning papers regarding launches
from the Cape and Vandenburg AFB.  The Vandenburg launches were slated
to be launched west with exocentric orbits, apogee was to be about 1600
nm above surface and perigee was to be only about 110 nm above surface.
The IUS (Inertial Upper Stage) was to be placed into this orbit and then
fired as it approached apogee.

From what I remember of the Scout launches that I worked with, this type
of initial orbit was usually reserved for polar launches - not what I
would have expected from a west launched vehicle.

I don't remember questioning anyone on this at the time - after all, I
was just the dumb young computer geek and these were clearly identified
as unclassified preliminary planning documents - thus subject to a lot
of change - which included the launch site and other criteria.  I have
been back through the unclassified launch histories and do not see
mention of any that would satisfy the mission criteria.  I expect that
they changed the criteria and launched out of the Cape.

Have a great day.
derrick

   

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