You ignore the feature of the shuttle overflight view, of the persistent sky
streak.
A white line is drawn across the sky and it lasted throughout the exposure.

"Kerwin" wrote in message
...
Is there a link anywhere to the photo in question?
From what I saw on the tv there was no indication of camera shake.
I am a semi-professional photographer and have been dealing with
digital images and repairing digital cameras for the past 15 years.
The camera was mounted on a tripod during the exposure which lasted 6
seconds.
If the camera was moved as the exposure was initiated the 'streak' would
have been at the
beginning of the path of the shuttle, not halfway along the length.
This could indicate that the camera was moved during the exposure.
If this was the case then the objects in the foreground would be blurred
as
well, they appeared quite sharp.
Normally when a tripod mounted camera is moved during a long time exposure
of a bright point object the resulting
image shows a "squiggle" or "streak" which starts at the bright object,
moves around then returns to the
object as the vibrations cease. I have many examples of this when I try to
photograph stars :-)
The 'streak' shown on that photo has a start and an end, but it doesn't
look
like it starts at the source, but it
does end there. It's also not the same colour as the shuttle trail.
As for "purple fringing" that is known as chromatic abhoration and happens
around the interface of a light and
dark area. Try taking a shot from inside looking out a window, you might
see
a purple "haze" on the edge of the bright window.
It's a lens problem.
It does not cause purple streaks or flashes in a uniform sky.
These are just my observations as a layman with some experience of digital
cameras and images.

regards,

--

Kerwin Robertson

"Jorge R. Frank" wrote in message
...
"Jim Oberg" wrote in
:

The 'lightning' story is a crock, but it's weird enough to tease
viewers with. There's been sound analysis
of the picture that provides adequate rationale for me to believe it
shows the shuttle itself 'squiggling' as the
time exposure is initiated and the camera shakes.

I'll bet "Megalightning" didn't mention the fact that the photographer
didn't see the "purple streak" at the time he took the photo, and now
agrees with the analysis that it was an artifact caused by camera shake
during the exposure.

"Kerwin" wrote in message
...

What was indicated by this program was that Columbia was hit by an
electrical discharge during re-entry.
Whether this caused the break up, or contributed to it is unknown.

No, it is now known that this was neither a cause nor a contributing
factor.

But it could be a factor to consider.

Considered, and rightfully rejected, by the CAIB. See Chapter 4 of the
final report.
--
JRF

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