Floridians get to hear the sonic boom as the space shuttle returns to Earth.
It is a big day for space news today. Starting out with the shuttle landing this morning, to tonight's lunar eclipse, and the possible shooting down of the space satellite.
I am on vacation in Florida at the moment. Not all that close to the Kennedy Space Center, which I have visited on other occasions, but close enough that launches can be seen as the plume of smoke snakes skyward. Landings are another matter. Because the space shuttle comes in like an airplane, they are not easy to see from far away. The telltale sign for re-entry for Floridians is the sonic boom.
I sat by the open window as the space shuttle crossed Florida, listening to all the sounds. I could hear the birds chirping, the wind rustling in the palm trees, the splattering of the water fountain in the pond across the street, chattering of people on the sidewalk... but I never did hear the sonic boom.
I watched the shuttle land live on CNN. It was a pretty scene. But I was disappointed I didn't get a personal connection to it by hearing or seeing it. So now I will wait for tonight's eclipse. Hope for clear skies.
