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Yes! As the Space Shuttle re-enters the atmosphere at supersonic speeds,
it creates shock waves which produce sonic booms. In fact, you'll hear not one,
but two sonic booms! Because the Space Shuttle is so large (122 ft
long), you will hear the sonic booms created by both the nose and tail shock
waves (they occur about one-half second apart). All supersonic airplanes
produce two sonic booms, but because they happen so close to each other, you
hear them as one sound.
You can hear the Space Shuttle's double sonic boom (keep in mind
that if you were hearing the real thing it would be hundreds of times
louder).
(back)
Photo: NASA; Sound: NASA Langley Research Center.
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