Shuttle diverted to California this afternoon

[sparkypyro]

Shuttle diverted to Edwards Air Force base today at 1:35 p.m. That's what the 2 loud sonic booms will be around 1:15. If someone has a good camera/lens setup you might be able to get picks of it and the 2 chase planes if the sky isn't foggy. Usually flys in from Catalina area over the L.A. basin on to Edwards. link http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?se...les&id=6531440

[Matt D]

Ill be listening lol

[Ryno]

Why 2 sonic booms, rather than a single?? Layers in the atmosphere? Actual speed of the shuttle?

[Matt D]

I didnt hear it :(

but i beleve there are to booms because the front and the rear of the shuttle brake the sound barrier at different times (you hear them within 1/2 a second)

[randy s]

i heard it. windows shook a bit.

[sparkypyro]

Why 2 sonic booms, rather than a single?? Layers in the atmosphere? Actual speed of the shuttle?

"The Cause"
"Sonic booms are created by air pressure. Much like a boat pushes up a bow wave as it travels through the water, a vehicle pushes air molecules aside in such a way they are compressed to the point where shock waves are formed."

"These shock waves form two cones, at the nose as well as at the tail of the vehicle. The shock waves move outward and rearward in all directions and usually extend to the ground. As the shock cones spread across the landscape along the flightpath, they create a continuous sonic boom along the full width of the cone's base. The sharp release of pressure, after the buildup by the shock wave, is heard as the sonic boom."

"The nose and tail shock waves are usually of similar strength. The time interval between the nose and tail shock waves is primarily dependent on the size of the aircraft and its altitude. Most people on the ground cannot distinguish between the two and they are usually heard as a single sonic boom. As the time interval increases, two booms are heard. A small fighter-type aircraft about 50 ft long will generate nose and tail shock waves of less than a tenth of a second (0.1 sec). The ear usually detects these as a single sonic boom."

"The interval between nose and tail shock waves on the Space Shuttles, which are 122 ft long, is about one-half of a second (0.50 sec), making the double boom very distinguishable."

[Bill]

I was over at my customers house cleaning up the job when it came in.We could even see it from there.it came over Lancaster on the way in to Edwards.

[Matt D]

"The Cause"
"Sonic booms are created by air pressure. Much like a boat pushes up a bow wave as it travels through the water, a vehicle pushes air molecules aside in such a way they are compressed to the point where shock waves are formed."

"These shock waves form two cones, at the nose as well as at the tail of the vehicle. The shock waves move outward and rearward in all directions and usually extend to the ground. As the shock cones spread across the landscape along the flightpath, they create a continuous sonic boom along the full width of the cone's base. The sharp release of pressure, after the buildup by the shock wave, is heard as the sonic boom."

"The nose and tail shock waves are usually of similar strength. The time interval between the nose and tail shock waves is primarily dependent on the size of the aircraft and its altitude. Most people on the ground cannot distinguish between the two and they are usually heard as a single sonic boom. As the time interval increases, two booms are heard. A small fighter-type aircraft about 50 ft long will generate nose and tail shock waves of less than a tenth of a second (0.1 sec). The ear usually detects these as a single sonic boom."

"The interval between nose and tail shock waves on the Space Shuttles, which are 122 ft long, is about one-half of a second (0.50 sec), making the double boom very distinguishable."

so i was mostly right haha

[pooz911]

yeah.....We got bombarded with 911 calls in Beverly Hills with people freaking out. Everything from earthquakes to "we are being attacked".

[bajafox]

I wish they landed in Miramar so I can hear these things!

[JJohnson]

Yeah I herd it here at Hermosa Beach, it was loud and the whole house shook and I am over 100 miles away! it was rad!

[la2baja]

I had two solid thuds. Shook the house.

[TreyP]

I had two solid thuds. Shook the house.

Put an "r" in thuds and this would be a real funny post.:D:cool:

[la2baja]

Put an "r" in thuds and this would be a real funny post.:D:cool:


HA! LMAO. That is funny right there. New name for morning activity, "House shaker!"

[FABRICATOR]

A visual.

http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/odds_and_oddities/assets/space_shuttle_sonic_boom.jpg

http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/odds_and_oddities/assets/coming_through.jpg

YouTube - Breaking sound barrier.mpg

[la2baja]

Wow! great pics and video.. thanks.