How long does it take to set up the flight path?
I know with our space probes, it takes precise calculations to get the crafts to their destination. These calculations have to be interpreted by the machines.
With the shuttle, I imagine it is just as complex to get the craft into the proper orbit. Do they have every orbit possibility preprogrammed and all they have to do is pull it up, or do that have to start from scratch with each mission?
Getting the hardware ready takes time, what about the software?