Space Shuttle Lands -Sonic Boom Over LaBelle, Florida -Don B

Space Shuttle Discovery comes in for landing June 14, 2008. Flying over his town in LaBelle, Florda, Don Browne broadcasts live as the sonic booms happen.

Courtesy: NASA

Watch live video and more clips from Don Browne - Florida on http://www.justin.tv/kq4ym

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• STS-124
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• Shuttle
• Lands
• Sonic
• Boom
• LaBelle
• Florida
• Don
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• justintv

[1Gaumer]

why 2 booms ?

[kq4ym]

@1Gaumer NASA says: There is a shock wave at the orbiter's nose and one at the orbiter's tail as it re-enters. Because the space shuttle is so large, 37 meters (122 feet) long, you will hear the sonic booms created by both the nose and tail shock waves, which occur about one-half second apart.

Sonic booms created by vehicles the size and mass of the space shuttle are very distinguishable and two distinct booms are easily heard.

[kq4ym]

The speed of sound in dry air at 68 degrees F. is 768 mph. The number changes depending on temperature and amount of water in air, and therefore would be different depending on what altitude the aircraft would be at.

[StanleyKu]

Great video! Any idea of the altitude when the video first started? 50,000 ft maybe?

[kq4ym]

@StanleyKu I can't remember but am thinking maybe 36,000 feet or so is when it started. The HUD display a little later shows 25,000 feet.

[superskullmaster]

@kq4ym Up no. The space shuttle decends at over 10,000ft a minute. If it was at 36,000ft it would hit the ground like 30 miles short of the runway. 20 degree glideslope vs 3 degrees for an airliner.

[kq4ym]

@superskullmaster although the glideslope is steeper than a normal aircraft, the descent rate would not be 10,000 a minute throughout the landing sequence. I can't remember what altitude it was at the time but the altimeter reading can be seen on the "headsup" display on the video if one is curious.

[pkm2209]

3:15 to hear the sonic boom

[dgcantrell1]

@MovieMad007 The Russians are still using OLD equipment. I doubt that they will be able to go very far in the near future because of their own financial situation. We (the US) will be back in a few years once we sort out all of current mess and get things back to some since of normalcy.

[MovieMad007]

Although, I reckon Russia is scared stiff of China or India stealing a march on them as Russia ...tbh I reckon has got bit of soft spot for America........you guys USA and Russia have quite a good space programme lined up and I hope it continues on that path for a global benefit. Its a wonderful game though this space travel and I wish that I was part of it rather than a benefactor of it...... sigh

[MovieMad007]

@dgcantrell1 Ah, ok fair enough. Thankyou for that. Appreciated!!

Its a shame that the powers that be feel it necessary to pull the plug on such adventures don't you think? And spend it on destruction (not getting into a political dogfight here about conflicts...). I think that maybe the Russians do actually have the right mind set and carry on the adventures - even though they too are feeling the pinch financially!

[dgcantrell1]

@dgcantrell1 Not to mention, the flight path of the Shuttle is almost always towards Africa because the fuel tank is jettisoned over the Indian Ocean. A trajectory over Ireland would have them dropping it on Russia. I don't think they would care too much for that happening.

[dgcantrell1]

@MovieMad007 Can't be true. The SRBs separate 70-some seconds after lift off getting it to just over 150,000ft. You can see them separate with the naked eye standing on the ground in Florida. I know, I've seen it. That happens about 20-30 miles into the flight. The SRBs are towed back to KSC by boat.

[MovieMad007]

@rock853okg One of the astronauts from the moon landing spoke about the latest British land speed record attempt to be held in 2014 in the South African Desert to break the 1000mph record in the Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) - to be attempted by RAF Wing Commander Andy Green. Can'tget any better recommendation than one of the worlds greatest astronauts!! Wing Commander Andy Green and Neil Armstrong/Buzz Aldrin = legends!!

[MovieMad007]

About 2 years back this was....

[MovieMad007]

PLEASE NOTE I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS WAS TRUE: somebody told me that the Shuttle ..or at least one of them was seen from the coast of the Republic of Ireland about 16 minutes after take off from Cape Canaveral!!! The expended SRB's apparently were seen falling to earth in the night sky in Ireland!! If this is true thats phenominal!!! When it would have been about 5AM in Florida and 11.30pm in Ireland.

[bisbeejim1]

What did he say... a 5.7 million dollar mission?

[MickeyFKNMouse]

@amgen52 University not school.