Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!seismo!sundc!hadron!klr
From: klr@hadron.UUCP (Kurt L. Reisler)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Shuttle landing
Message-ID: <789@hadron.UUCP>
Date: 6 Oct 88 14:08:35 GMT
References: <69@sjs.sj.ate.slb.com>
Reply-To: klr@hadron.UUCP (Kurt L. Reisler)
Organization: Hadron, Inc., Fairfax, VA
Lines: 17

In article <69@sjs.sj.ate.slb.com> doyle@sjs.sj.ate.slb.com (Matt Doyle, 408-437-5284) writes:
>I haven't seen this question asked yet so I'll stick my neck out..
>why were there two sonic booms when the STS passed over head when landing
>and not one?? I heard the news casters telling people to prepare for the
>double sonic boom, so I assume that it is normal.

If I remember correctly, the double sonic booms are caused by the
aerodynamics of our lovable 200 ton flying brick :-)  Seems that there
is one sonic shock wave (aka sonic boom) from the nose of the orbiter,
and another from the tail (rudder?).

It was interesting to see the crowd reaction to the double boom.  Many
cheered and pointed, but one or two seemed to be ducking for cover.  I
will say that (on TV anyway) that was the clearest and loudest re-entry
I have seen.

Was anyone out there in person (envy, envy, envy)?