Just turned on Fox News and saw that it was going to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
I'm in San Diego and that was loud! What does that sound like closer to the Mojave desert? What causes the 2 booms?
2007-06-22 08:55:28 · 8 answers · asked by cashelmara 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
That was the shuttle's characteristic double sonic boom. Due to its blunt shape, it breaks the sound barrier twice, once with the nose and again with the engine nacelle (the flared portion by the tail).
I used to live in Ventura, California and heard it come in on the western approach many times. I attended six shuttle landings at Edwards AFB, including a dawn landing and a night landing, when the base used to open to the public for such events.
2007-06-22 13:19:29 · answer #1 · answered by Kayty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The booms are produced by the shock wave from the shuttle crossing the sound barrier first by the nose and then by the back fin. The sound carries for quite a long ways and glad I'm not near kennedy anymore as they would often land early in the morning when i was trying to sleep!
2007-06-22 16:26:06 · answer #2 · answered by SC 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just heard it, too, and I live in Ventura County.
The booms are actually what is known as "sonic booms" and it is due to breaking the sound barrier.
2007-06-22 16:01:25 · answer #3 · answered by boogeywoogy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes............that was the space shuttle entering for landing at Edwards Air Force Base.
I heard it too.
2007-06-22 21:56:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im in O.C. California and it was really loud. It shook my house and rattled the windows. IT scared the crap out of me. I thought an airplane had crashed. airplanes fly above our house all the time.
2007-06-22 16:55:31 · answer #5 · answered by lafresa cremosa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as an object exceeds the speed of sound (about 340m/s @STP) it will go beyond the compression waves in front and create a shock wave known as the sonic boom.
2007-06-30 03:45:01 · answer #6 · answered by NIk1125 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sound occurs when you break the sound barrier.
2007-06-28 20:22:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh that's what that sound was.It scared me too.I have no idea what causes it.
2007-06-22 16:02:59 · answer #8 · answered by Keri 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋