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Targeting Area

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Targeting Table

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Lat/Lon Table

Purpose: students use an orbital map to select the targets for each orbit. 

At the center of the room are two tables, each with a world map as a base, and a clear plastic orbital overlay. The base map is taped to the top of the table. The slider overlay, with the shuttle orbital track precisely marked, is laid on top of the base map. For each orbit, longitude of the descending node is provided (via the "KidSat and Shuttle Status Area") to let students know exactly where to position the orbital track overlay.

The two tables are similar in appearance, but serve two different functions:
Targeting Table - The students at this table select the targets. The targets must be exactly under the orbital track. In general, the students look for three types of targets:

• pre-defined sites: Are any of their pre-defined target sites (such as Hawaii) under the orbital track?

• broad regions: Does the orbital track cross a region of interest (such as the Asian rain forests)?

• targets of opportunity: What else under the track looks interesting?

Lat/lon Table - The students at this table determine the latitude and longitude of each target. When the students at the targeting table select a target, they go to the lat/lon table and mark its location. Then the students at this second table identify the exact latitude and longitude, and record it on a Target Request Form.

Experience has shown that these two functions (selecting targets and determining the latitude and longitude) are best handles separately. This way the targeters can focus on the targeting, and the lat/lon experts can focus on specifying the location. The two functions can, however, be performed at the same table, with one map.

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