Editing 787: Orbiter
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| title = Orbiter | | title = Orbiter | ||
| image = orbiter.png | | image = orbiter.png | ||
− | | titletext = Normally, the Shuttle can't quite safely reach the orbital inclination required to pass over both those points from a Canaveral launch, but this is an alternate history in which either it launches from | + | | titletext = Normally, the Shuttle can't quite safely reach the orbital inclination required to pass over both those points from a Canaveral launch, but this is an alternate history in which either it launches from Vandenburg or everyone hates the Outer Banks. |
}} | }} | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic is about disputed territories and {{w| | + | This comic is about disputed territories and {{w|Polar orbit|polar orbits}}. |
− | + | At mission control, the main controller is planning the next check-in with the space shuttle, which is set to occur at [https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=32.0N+35.5E&hl=en&ll=32.001089,35.499573&spn=1.579171,3.339844&sll=31.995993,35.505409&sspn=0.049353,0.10437&t=h&z=9 32.0N 35.5E], approx 20 miles north-east of Jerusalem, over the hotly contested {{w|Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Israeli-Palestinian territories}}. Frank and the other off-screen character start to dispute the ownership of this geographical location, and rather than getting involved in an argument, the main character decides to change the check-in to [https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=35.2N+96.6W&hl=en&ll=35.200745,-96.602783&spn=6.085197,13.359375&sll=32.001089,35.499573&sspn=1.579171,3.339844&t=h&z=7 35.2N 96.6W], approximately 50miles East of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which he considers to be a neutral and non-disputed location. Unfortunately, Frank is a dick, and he then starts to make the claim that {{w|Greer County, Texas|part of Oklahoma in fact should belong to Texas}}. | |
− | + | The satellite would probably require a polar orbit (a "vertical" orbit passing the poles of the earth with each orbit) to reach both Palestine and Oklahoma, which cannot be achieved from a launch at {{w|Kennedy Space Center|Cape Caneveral}}, as the launch trajectories would cause debris and spent fuel tanks from the Shuttle during its ascent to fall in heavily populated areas. | |
− | In the title text | + | In the title text Randall mentions an alternate history in which the Space Shuttles launch from {{w|Vandenberg Air Force Base|Vandenburg}}, this is a reference to the plans to launch shuttles from there before the {{w|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Challenger accident}} occurred. After Challenger was lost, the polar orbiting missions were scrapped and Cape Canaveral became the sole launch site for the {{w|Space Shuttle}}. Another possibility in this alternate history is that the rules forbidding orbital launches from Caneveral to a polar inclination don't exist, because nobody likes the {{w|Outer Banks}} (which would be in the flight path) and thus don't care about space debris falling on them. |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:Cueball: Okay, people. The orbiter is passing south of Iceland. The next scheduled check-in will be at 32.0N 35.5E, over the Palestinian territories. | :Cueball: Okay, people. The orbiter is passing south of Iceland. The next scheduled check-in will be at 32.0N 35.5E, over the Palestinian territories. | ||
− | :Off-screen character | + | :Off-screen character: You mean over Palestine? |
− | : | + | :Frank (off-screen): You mean over Israel? |
− | :[ | + | :[Beat panel.] |
:Cueball: I've rescheduled the check-in for 35.2N 96.6W, over Oklahoma. | :Cueball: I've rescheduled the check-in for 35.2N 96.6W, over Oklahoma. | ||
− | :Frank (off-screen | + | :Frank (off-screen): You mean occupied North Texas? |
:Cueball: Dammit, Frank. | :Cueball: Dammit, Frank. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
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