On Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:18:40 -0400, you (Jonathan McDowell <jcm@head.cfa.harvard.edu>) wrote: >David, I don't think it was the photo flashes ... I have seen these >quasi-periodic flares on previous launches. I guess it's the RCS burns, >but they seem awfully bright. I don't suppose it could be the tumbling ET? Minor addendum - today, entering their sleep period, they finally downlinked the onboard Flight Deck video showing the launch, from about T-1 minute to maybe 10 minutes after MECO. The RCS firings after ET separation appear *very* notable and bright in the overhead and forward cabin windows (PLT/starboard side was in the field of view), and I'd argue the pattern surely matches your observation somewhat. The nose thruster firings illuminate their faces almost as starkly as the SRB sep motors do right after 1st stage. Seems to me that should certainly be observable from the ground. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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