Asri-unix.1000
net.space
utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ARPAVAX:C70:sri-unix!Hamilton.ES@PARC-MAXC
Fri Mar 12 17:42:05 1982
Re: shuttle landing
I motorcycled up for the first landing (which I would guess is
as crowded as it would ever get). It was all handled extremely
well by the Air Force folks. Traffic moved steadily. I got in
about 2am the night before. You're free to park and drop your
sleeping bag at the spot they direct you to. They had everybody
strung out in the eastern part of Rogers (dry) Lake, in an area
about two miles N-S and 1/2 mile E-W. There were lots of porta-potties
and drinking water, but bring your own food. I was able to get
right up along the fence to view the landing -- the crowd wasn't
more than about two deep, since lots of folks prefer the roofs
of their RVs. You're free to walk around anywhere within the public
viewing area. Columbia made a loud double sonic boom as it passed
overhead at about 50,000 feet and Mach 2, then pulled about a 220-degree
turn for final approach. It wasn't visible until about half a
minute before touchdown, on final. Touchdown was about two miles
from my viewing site, and was so smooth that I could only identify
it by the clouds of dust that started to appear. I didn't have
any trouble getting out, but even if I'd been in a car, I don't
think it would have taken much over half an hour to get out of
the worst traffic jams.
The latest weather-word is that Rogers may be too wet for landing
STS-3 there.
--Bruce
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