Discovery’s landing had been diverted from Florida to the Mojave Desert after weather conditions - specifically thunder storms - steered the shuttle away from its home base.Some residents reported seeing the pulsing red shuttle as it passed over Ventura County while others - also recognizing the sonic boom - turned on their televisions to catch the landing.Although the public was barred from viewing the Discovery landing up close due to reported increased security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, other more cynical shuttle watchers had another theory. They noted the explosion of the Columbia and pointed to the fact that the Discovery landing was already scheduled at night...and under the cover of darkness and in case of failure there would no television coverage of the tragedy.The 176,000 pound shuttle traveled 5.8 million miles in 14 days in a mission that included a space fix of the exposed fuel tank.During Discovery’s mission the seven crewmembers tested new technologies and techniques centered on detecting and repairing damage to insulating tiles and panels. And, like all tourists, the crew sent home photography of space.
Reentry of Discovery brings sonic boom, relief for mission accomplished
August 17, 2005
Santa Paula News
With a loud double boom the space shuttle Discovery landed early Tuesday morning at Edwards Air Force Base, an event that brought relief to those concerned about the welfare of the crew after five large pieces of foam popped off the external fuel tank upon takeoff two weeks ago.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesWith a loud double boom the space shuttle Discovery landed early Tuesday morning at Edwards Air Force Base, an event that brought relief to those concerned about the welfare of the crew after five large pieces of foam popped off the external fuel tank upon takeoff two weeks ago.The 5:08 a.m. reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere also brought fright to those who did not know that it was the shuttle-caused double sonic boom that caused their windows to rattle and light objects to jump from shelves.Some Californians hearing the sonic boom believed that an explosion had occurred or that the shuttle itself had blown up while others feared an earthquake, but in Santa Paula the calls reflected curiosity more than anything else.Santa Paula Police received about 16 calls on 911 about the sonic boom, an event that abruptly woke up residents and sent animals into a panic.Commander Mark Hanson said that the 911 calls “Came within a couple of minutes, people wanting to know what the big noise was. The darn thing set my car alarm off!”
