Xref: utzoo sci.space.shuttle:7860 rec.aviation:36348
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!amdahl!rtech!kerry
From: kerry@Ingres.COM (Kerry Kurasaki)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle,rec.aviation
Subject: Re: Now THAT'S speed!
Message-ID: <1991May15.230703.5023@Ingres.COM>
Date: 15 May 91 23:07:03 GMT
References: <72189@microsoft.UUCP>
Reply-To: kerry@rtech.UUCP (Kerry Kurasaki)
Organization: Ask Computer Systems Inc., Ingres Division, Alameda CA 94501
Lines: 21

In article <72189@microsoft.UUCP> mikemr@microsoft.UUCP (Michael MRAZ) writes:
>I just listened to the de-orbit and landing of Discovery
>STS-39. The speed at which things happen during this
>phase of the flight really never hit me until I had the
>pleasure of hearing the whole sequence from de-orbit burn
>to touchdown. Unbelievable. What really drove home the point
>was when, about 30 minutes before touchdown, the NASA announcer
>said that Discovery was just crossing the Canadian border near
>Vancouver, BC. Then, less than 15 minutes later, "Discovery just
>crossed the Florida coast near Tallahassee, altitude 98,000 feet,
>velocity..." That must be one hell of a ride!

Try doing a "Shuttle-1" approach.  With something of a 15 degree glideslope,
the shuttle is supposed to fly like a rock! :-)

I computed 15 degrees to be something like 2000 FPM descent at 80
knots.  I once went up in an arrow, dropped gear and full flaps, and nosed
it over until I got the above.  Needless to say, the view was, ahem,
rather spectacular.  Actually, I don't care to try it at 300 knots!

Kerry