HollieSix minutes suddenly sounds like forever.
I did a web search for Mach 32 in MPH, and got three different answers. So...roughly 24,000 mph but nobody knows for sure?
How cool would it be to be the helicopter pilot that took the astronauts back to the ship, duuuude, that's the job I wish I could have. :)
In case you're curious what I'm watching, it's NASA's official broadcast:
NASA’s Artemis II Crew Comes Home (Official Broadcast)
"As the earth grows larger in the field of view" yeah because they're going to be FALLING. My mind can't get over this. My palms literally start to sweat when I think about it, sitting at my desk, on the earth. Tipping out of orbit, like just tipping over a cliff.
This is why I don't want to go to space, lol. When friends get talking about this and begin "what if" questions and I admit I wouldn't actually go up, they ask why and I say it's because it's basically the worst possible fear-of-heights scenario we know of. I like helicopters (yeah, I have been in one). In aviation they're like the horse and carriage of altitude. 😅 (fear of heights doesn't have to be logical)
"We've now armed the pyros" okay NASA that can't mean what it sounds like
Okay that separation was amazing.
"Just 2800 miles from earth"
STRAIGHT UP
<palms sweat profusely>
it's fine we're all fiiiiine
"Less than nine minutes away from entry interface"
Like if this doesn't make your heart sore with awe and feel kinda sappy about it then you probably don't want to hang out with me
They're doing such a great job of explaining what's going on, it's so cool.
Honestly I want to take a screenshot of this view so that the next time I'm in an airplane that is about to land and I look out the window and feel sick at the height I'm about descend, I can see the screenshot and think, "Hey, it could be worse!" 😆
EVERYBODY REMEMBER TO BREATHE
In a neat little bit of synchronicity, when the chutes came out, there was a big flash of lightning and boom of thunder in the rain cloud over our house in Oregon. :)
Chrono