Understand everything you say, G.
But if everybody is there, at their desks, for a six minute window...why not stay to minute seven..or eight... and still launch.
Agree, too, with the "catch the previously launched star" comment...but if just the change of altitude (BTW...what do they use as a vertical reference?) changes the speed - and I've heard that before, then surely once the orbiter is pushed in the right direction with a short blip of 'burn' it should not really pose a big problem.
I KNOW I'm looking at this very simplsticly, but I'm still curious.
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Hunting is bad!!
Support the right to arm Bears!!