Thank you, leadpenny, for starting this historic and very moving thread. It gives chills to read it.
I have a couple of questions - perhaps they can be answered on other threads about this tragedy.
1. You mentioned, LP, about these 80 degree turns - and that you did not recall such turns on previous Shuttle returns you have watched. Can you or Gracey elaborate on why these turns were needed on this mission and not on others? (if that is true) - or link me to a thread or a post that has such explanations?
2. My husband reported that he heard during the day Saturday that photographers in California photographed what appeared to be "stuff" around the Vehicle that normally would not be there - such as panels outside the bay or some such - but I have not heard or read anything about such pictures anywhere else. The only thing was the picture of the shuttle which looked very strange to me - amom has the link to the video - but I have not heard of an official explanation of the position of the Vehicle in that video as posted by "amom" - nor have I seen any other photographs or discussions about any "panels" or other objects sitcking out of the shuttle vehicle while it was seen over California Can anyone shed any light on this report?
Thanks again for all FR input on this subject and for this amazing thread. One for the history books for sure. God be with the families of the Astronauts and may the world see the glee of Iraqi's and Pali's over this tragedy as the abomination that it is.
. . .my thoughts, feelings. . .cold chills as well.
. . .and particularly impressive to be recognized in major Media for 'being there'. . .
What I thought I heard from the NASA spokesman as the shuttle crossed California was that the Columbia had begun the first of four steep turns to dissipate speed and altitude. At one point I thought I heard him say the shuttle would have been in an 80 degree bank. That seemed a little steep to me. During the NASA briefing in the afternoon there was mention of 57 degree banks during the S turns. I may have misunderstood. Maybe Gracey can answer this but most of the recoveries I have seen came up to Kennedy from the SW and the speed/altitude losing turns seemed to happen closer in than where Columbia was doing her turns yesterday.