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From: raveling@Unify.com (Paul Raveling)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle,rec.aviation
Subject: Re: Now THAT'S speed!
Message-ID: <1991May16.120830@Unify.com>
Date: 16 May 91 19:08:30 GMT
References: <4905@orbit.cts.com>
Sender: news@Unify.Com (news admin)
Reply-To: raveling@Unify.com (Paul Raveling)
Organization: Unify Corporation, Sacramento, CA, USA
Lines: 27

In article <4905@orbit.cts.com>, rambler@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Dan Meyer) writes:
> mikemr@microsoft.UUCP (Michael MRAZ) writes:

> >..., 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!
> 
> 
> The other thing to listen to during descent is both the forward velocity and
> the _downward_ velocity. If my estimates are correct, the shuttle drops at
> more than 300 Miles Per Hour!

	At least In that final part of the flight it's not quite so
	dramatic.  My recollection is that final approach speed is
	about 300 knots (will vary a bit depending on weight) with a
	17-degree glideslope.  This would put its vertical velocity
	on final approach somewhere around a "mere" 90 knots before
	it flares.

> your right, it must be one hell of a ride!

	Amen!


------------------
Paul Raveling
Raveling@Unify.com