Supersonic ripples on a sky-high pond

awesomeness, photography, rockets, science, spacecraft

Feb 202010

The launch of the Solar Dynamics Observatory atop an Atlas rocket on February 11 featured a rare phenomenon… the supersonic launch vehicle passed through a think layer of clouds, causing a very clear series of “ripples” to spread outwards and the shockwave from the vehicle passed. Give it a watch on Youtube.

3 Responses to “Supersonic ripples on a sky-high pond”

2Hotel9 says:

February 20, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Yea, WAY cool!!!!!!!!
sferrin says:

February 20, 2010 at 7:53 pm

Sonic Boom: 1
Sun Dog: 0
Michel Van says:

February 21, 2010 at 2:37 pm

cool
that why i like Rockets

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