LON meaning in Space Science ?

Answer: What is Launch On Need mean?

Space Shuttle missions designated STS-3xx (officially called Launch On Need (LON) missions) were rescue missions which would have been mounted to rescue the crew of a Space Shuttle if their vehicle was damaged and deemed unable to make a successful reentry. Such a mission would have been flown if Mission Control determined that the heat shielding tiles and reinforced carbon-carbon panels of a currently flying orbiter were damaged beyond the repair capabilities of the available on-orbit repair methods. These missions were also referred to as Launch on Demand (LOD) and Contingency Shuttle Crew Support. The program was initiated following loss of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. No mission of this type was launched during the Space Shuttle program.

reference

Full Form	Category
London	Airport Code
Local Operating Networks	Computer and Networking
Local Order Number	Computing
Learning Online Network	Computing
Tokenlon Network Token	Cryptocurrency
Local Operating Net	General
Locally Operating Networks	General
List Of Numbers	General
Labyrinth of Nightmare	General
Land of Narayan	General
Local Operation Network	General
Legends Of Norrath	General
Level Of Need	General
Ladies Of the Night	General
League of Nations	International
Letter of Notification	Military and Defence
London, England, UK	Regional
Launch On Need	Space Science
Longitude	Space Science
Lps Operations Network	Space Science
Local Operating Network	Telecommunication