Shuttle Re-Entry in 1996
These are shots (on film) from a previous "descending node" re-entry of the Space Shuttle, of STS79 Atlantis on the morning of September 26, 1996. The Shuttle was returning with Shannon Lucid from the Mir space Station. Atlantis flew directly over southern Alberta, Canada in the pre-dawn sky, under similar circumstances to Monday's (or possibly Tuesday's, if they wave off for a day) planned re-entry. The Shuttle itself appeared as a brilliant pink star (blurred in photo #1 and #2 into a pink streak). It left behind a greenish plasma trail that lingered for many minutes, recorded in photo #3 and #4. In all, a spectacular sight. And sound! A sonic boom was heard. Descending node entries are very rare, so we hope we'll get to see this one, from STS131.