The space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida July 15, 2009. Endeavour carries a crew of seven astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Michael Berrigan (UNITED STATES)
Anyone notice vapor coming off the top of the thing at around 50 seconds (max dynamic pressure)? I have never noticed that before.
The space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida July 15, 2009. Endeavour carries a crew of seven astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station. REUTERS/Michael Berrigan (UNITED STATES)
Yep, I saw that too. It's that vapor effect that happens around aircraft at speed under certain conditions of pressure and temperature. It's commonly associated with breaking the sound barrier, though that's not exactly always true. It's got a name that I can never remember.