Space shuttle landing

Los Angeles Explosion

Posted December 1 2008 07:11 AM by Jp Editor
Filed under: Editorials, Jeep Enthusiast Culture, John Cappa

So I'm sitting around watching TV yesterday afternoon, then there is a huge boom that rattles the house and sets off car alarms for miles. I mean this sounded and felt like a car ran into the side of my house. I went outside to look for smoke from a plane crash or explosion but saw nothing.

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Later on I searched the news only to find the space shuttle had landed out in the desert at Edwards Air Force Base. That's over 70 miles away and on the other side of a mountain range from me but since the sonic booms happen upon re-entry who knows how close it was. Kinda cool.

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Reader Comments:

1. There's usually 2 booms back-to-back.

Jp Tech Editor - Posted December 1 2008 08:08 AM

2. Yeah, that's what I read, But I only noticed one, unless they were so close it just seemed like one.

Sooo, Mr. Jet Plane, Why are there two? And What causes them?...silly questions since I could look it up...but I'm lazy.

Jp Editor - Posted December 1 2008 03:53 PM

3. It's an N wave. Compression and expansion. Smaller planes make 2 booms as well, but they're either too faint or they merge into a single by the time they reach ground level(well, unless they're manuvering and then they make U-waves). Shuttle is so damn big, heavy, and fast the N-wave is still a monster by the time it hits ground level, so you hear boom - boom.

Jp Tech Editor - Posted December 1 2008 04:50 PM

4. i make those sounds after eating beans

chariotofmanliness - Posted December 2 2008 07:44 AM

5. The first time I had ever experienced what you folks are talking about, I was living in Naples, FL. (South West Florida) and heard the sonic boom when the shuttle landed at Cape! I heard only one then as well. I was easily several hours away from the landing and it sounded just like it was right out side.

jtmax_29 - Posted December 2 2008 09:45 AM

6. I'm pissed I missed this, two things on my list of things to do before I die are to watch the Space Shuttle launch and land... and I think I'm running out of time (well, the Shuttle is, I'm not, I hope)

Jp Web Editor - Posted December 5 2008 01:28 PM

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