Against all odds, the crew has just been given a GO for the deorbit burn for the 2nd opportunity into KSC. This trajectory will bring the orbiter almost directly over Houston, and while it will be next to impossible to see it, you should be able to hear the sonic booms if you listen closely. Here are the details:
4:13:50 p.m. CST – Discovery rises above the WSW horizon
4:16:40 p.m. CST – Discovery closest approach, 70 degrees above the NNW horizon
4:20:00 p.m. CST – Discovery sets below the ENE horizon
If you can hear the sonic booms, they will be right around 4:20 p.m. give or take a minute. I’ll be listening!
I was wondering what that was–I was outside and heard what sounded like a big explosion and a slightly smaller one. How cool is that!
I’m so glad I read back to this post! When I came home from work on Friday, my hubby said he heard a boom that afternoon while playing with the kiddo in the back yard. He thought it was a plant explosion or something. More than likely, it was the shuttle’s sonic boom. Too cool!