[tubebender]

Do you know what the exposure of the photo was. I am curious why it doesn't show any components leaving the shuttle beside the "fuzz" off the back. I read that the breakup was well under way over Lubbek Tx not to far from the photo site. Also...was the photo cropped in any way and blown up.

[freepersup]

# 1642: According to the story, (if it isn't a cover) what we are seeing is what they are seeing. I can't answer your questions- just yet.

They would have had to preset the focal length at an estimate based on the shuttle's altitude at time on target (overhead) wouldn't they ? I can't see them tracking the shuttle and adjusting the focus at the same time. I don't doubt that lots of astronomical viewing devices in our inventory have automatic adjustments of some kind or another. This sounded like a duct tape, paper clip, rubber band- patch job, that for all intent and purpose, did what it was supposed to do.

[freepersup]

Without consulting a map, I'd say the location at Kirtland is around 500-550 miles from the point of estimated break up (the point halfway between Amarillo and Lubbock).

[DonnerT]

Lubbock is over 300 miles down range of Albuquerque.