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JRV that begs the question.....why didnt NASA just take it out and let the Astronauts joy ride on the Space Shuttle....buzz all restricted airspace....nyc, dc.....nsa hq, cia hq.....go up to chi-town buzz sears tower....fuck 'em if they cant take a joke at an astronomical expense to taxpayers!

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A Shuttle doesn't buzz anything! A friend of mine who flew a mission 20 years ago as a scientist was also a qualified backup pilot, and described the flight characteristics to me as "it flies like a brick with aerodynamic surfaces". And the descent rate is relentless... (75 ton supersonic gliders aren't the best at maneuvering)

Now were they to do a night launch to ISS going north I think the could adjust the track a little to the left and fly directly over DC at full throttle (325,000 ft up). The SSME engines aren't bright like the solid boosters but it would still be a neat blue UFO glow. I don't think they can go over NYC and get to ISS.

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