Track Shuttles using Google Earth

The Google Earth Program is the most used system for identifying places on the world map in 3D today and many organizations around the world use this system including NASA. People use google earth for a variety of things including as a 3D earth map and as a world map to explore various places around the globe in real time and even for tracking space shuttles after launch. You can track a space shuttle during takeoff and landing using real time information from the space shuttle’s mission control center. Using the google earth technology a model of a NASA space shuttle can be plotted to show the position and trajectory of the space craft at all times. This is all displayed in 3D which makes for a stunning view of the shuttle’s progress through the air. In addition to this you can also view geospatial data and the path that the vehicle flies. The trajectory of any given space shuttle is represented using a yellow line showing the shuttle as it flies. The mission events are also shown using colored dots as markers when and where an event occurred. Some of the events may include solid rocket booster separation and some of the speed milestones that the shuttle goes through.

In addition to this there are two options for viewing any given space shuttle on the google maps. The first viewing option is Auto Follow which automatically moves with the space shuttle as it launches and lands. During dynamic launch and the entry phases of the flight the normal view is chase view or low view which are the google earth program’s default settings. This setting is recommended to passively monitor the launch and landing of the space craft. The second view or Manual Control view allows the user to control the view in Google earth. This view will not follow the space shuttle automatically but allows the user to zoom and fit the view however they desire.