Re-entry imagery prior to STS-107
I am wondering if anyone on the forum can speak to this....
I seem to recall ground based video of prior shuttle re-entries some years ago which showed the shuttle at very high altitude and Mach (overflying California, I believe) without any significanltly visible trailing plume. The amateur videos broadcast yesterday seemed to me to appear quite different, in that prior to the visible breakup of the orbiter, there was a significant trailing plume behind Columbia.
Now, I've never observed a shuttle re-entry first person, nor is my memory infallible (quite the opposite!), but I am curious to compare prior entry imagery with what was witnessed on Feb 1.
My purpose is not to speculate, but this has been kinda stuck in my mind all day....
Any thoughts?
S