What is interesting about this landing is the path Discovery will take while re-entering the atmosphere. It looks like the shuttle will be flying over southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas. Note the speeds what which the shuttle will be gliding while passing overhead.
It will be traveling at Mach 16 while passing over St. Louis. Mach is another term for the speed of sound. That means the spacecraft will be flying at 16 times the speed of sound. The speed of sound at sea level is 761 mph and at roughly 30,000 feet is 660 mph. This means that the shuttle will be flying at roughly 9,240-10,560 miles per hour while passing over the top of southeast Missouri. Breaking it down even more, this would have the shuttle flying at almost 3 miles per second. Think the cops will set up a speed trap? haha
What does all this mean? Don't be surprised to hear a boom or two Monday morning if the shuttle lands. It will probably create a sonic boom or two as it passes over.
My best guess is that the shuttle could be flying over southeast Missouri as early as 6:50am to as late as 7:30am.
1 comment:
Do you know if parts of western Kentucky would be able to see or hear anything from the shuttle landing?
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