A Compilation of Space Shuttle Sonic Boom Measurements - Supplemental STS Sonic Boom Files

Sonic boom measurements have been obtained on 26 flights of the Space Shuttle system beginning with the launch of STS-1 on April 12, 1981, to the reentry-descent of STS-41 into EAFB on Oct. 10, 1990. A total of 23 boom measurements were acquired within the focus region off the Florida coast during 3 STS launch-ascents and 113 boom measurements were acquired during 23 STS reentry-descent to landing into Florida and California. Sonic boom measurements were made under, and lateral to, the vehicle ground track and cover the Mach-altitude range of about 1.3 to 23 and 54,000 feet to 243,000 feet, respectively. Vehicle operational data, flight profiles and weather data were also gathered during the flights. This STS boom database is contained in 26 documents, some are formal and referenceable but most internal documents. Another 38 documents, also non-referenceable, contain predicted sonic boom footprints for reentry-descent flights on which no measurements were made. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the STS sonic boom database and summarize the main findings.

[1]  David A. Hilton,et al.  Sonic-boom measurements in the focus region during the ascent of Apollo 17 , 1974 .

[2]  J. P. Mendoza,et al.  A Wind Tunnel Flight Correlation of Apollo 15 Sonic Boom , 1973 .

[3]  M Sullivan Brenda,et al.  A Loudness Calculation Procedure Applied to Shaped Sonic Booms , 2003 .

[4]  H. R. Henderson.  Sonic boom measurement test plan for Space Shuttle STS-1 reentry , 1981 .

[5]  D. J. Maglieri,et al.  Variability in sonic-boom signatures measured along an 8000-foot linear array , 1969 .

[6]  Domenic J. Maglieri,et al.  A summary of XB-70 sonic boom signature data , 1992 .

[7]  D. A. Hilton,et al.  Sonic-boom ground pressure measurements from the launch and reentry of Apollo 16 , 1974 .

[8]  W L Donn,et al.  Sound from Apollo Rockets in Space , 1971, Science.

[9]  D. A. Hilton,et al.  Sonic-boom ground-pressure measurements from Apollo 15 , 1972 .

[10]  Nasa Technical.  PRESSURE SIGNATURES FOR THE APOLLO COMMAND MODULE AND THE SATURN V LAUNCH VEHICLE WITH A DISCUSSION OF STRONG SHOCK EXTRAPOLATION PROCEDURES , 1972 .

[11]  Harvey H. Hubbard,et al.  Ground measurements of sonic-boom pressures for the altitude range of 10,000 to 75,000 feet , 1964 .

[12]  Victor E. Sothcott,et al.  Summary of sonic boom rise times observed during FAA community response studies over a 6-month period in the Oklahoma City area , 1990 .

[13]  M. S. Malkin.  Environmental Impact Statement for the Space Shuttle Program , 1978 .

[14]  A. Potter.  Space Shuttle Environmental Effects: The First 5 Flights , 1983 .

[15]  R. J. Mack,et al.  A study of the sonic-boom characteristics of a blunt body at a Mach number of 4.14 , 1977 .

[16]  H. R. Henderson,et al.  Preliminary sonic boom correlation of predicted and measured levels for STS-1 entry , 1982 .

[17]  D. J. Maglieri,et al.  Sonic-boom measurements for SR-71 aircraft operating at Mach numbers to 3.0 and altitudes to 24384 meters , 1972 .

[18]  J. P. Mendoza,et al.  Pressure signatures for the Apollo command module and the Saturn 5 launch vehicle with a discussion of strong shock extrapolation procedures , 1972 .

[19]  Ira R. Schwartz,et al.  Shuttle Sonic Boom - Technology and Predictions , 1975 .

[20]  J. P. Mendoza.  Wind tunnel pressure signatures for a 0.0041-scale model of the space shuttle orbiter , 1975 .

[21]  R. J. Mack,et al.  A wind-tunnel study of the applicability of far-field sonic-boom theory to the space shuttle orbiter , 1978 .

[22]  C. L. Thomas.  Extrapolation of sonic boom pressure signatures by the waveform parameter method , 1972 .

[23]  J. P. Mendoza,et al.  Pressure signatures for a .00053 scale model of the Saturn 5-Apollo launch vehicle with simulated exhaust plumes , 1973 .

[24]  J. P. Mendoza.  Sonic boom pressure signatures for the space shuttle launch vehicle , 1975 .

[25]  H. R. Henderson,et al.  Correlation of predicted and measured sonic boom characteristics from the reentry of STS-1 orbiter , 1985 .

[26]  Harry W. Carlson,et al.  Simplified sonic-boom prediction , 1978 .

[27]  George C. Ashby.  A Study of the Sonic-Boom Characteristics of a Blunt Body at a Mach Number of 6 , 1980 .

[28]  J. P. Mendoza.  Further wind tunnel measurements of pressure signatures for a 0.0041-scale model of the space shuttle orbiter , 1976 .

[29]  G. C. Ashby.  Near-field sonic-boom pressure signatures for the space shuttle launch and orbiter vehicles at Mach 6 , 1979 .