Shuttle sonic boom heard from JPL

[Jane H Jones]

A bunch of us walked outside the Space Flight Operations Facility 
here at JPL http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/iged/sfof.html a few 
minutes ago to watch and listen for the STS117  as it passed the LA 
area on it's way to landing at Edwards  Air Force base.

A couple people from the Cassini Team were there, since we work in 
this historic building, and several folks had their laptops  in their 
arms with the NASA commentary and imagery running.   We could see the 
shuttle on the screen, but could not see ourselves.   But we did hear 
the subtle and very low double sonic booms, and minutes later, the 
shuttle had successfully landed.

In case you were wondering.....why does the space shuttle have a 
double sonic boom? 
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec97/874604921.Eg.r.html

Jane
-- 
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA  91109  818-393-6435
jane.h.jones at jpl.nasa.gov
Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html