QUOTE (SanderO @ Feb 9 2011, 11:43 AM)

If people looked up and turned their heads who were not looking up, it would indicate a loud sound caught their attention. I think all the films should be studied to see if such a thing occurred. Hard to stop that reflex.
I think there was a big noise. But I think they did some kind of fly by with something up higher and that they could make sound really loud.
I don't know what NASA flies for their shuttle rescue. But I do know the day Columbia blew up, I heard something very unusual. I live in the flight path for the shuttle's return, so my husband and I were out in the backyard hoping to see it go over. Even if we couldn't see it, we would definitely get to hear the sonic booms. Well, we waited and waited and nothing happened. So I went back inside to check the news and NASA was waiting and waiting too. After a few minutes, they admitted that they had lost contact.
Within 10 minutes of that something flew over going east to west that was the loudest thing I've ever heard flying and you could tell they were hauling ass. Didn't get to see it, but it scared the crap out of me. They could have done this in NYC with a military jet that was high enough that you probably wouldn't see it, but loud enough that everyone could hear it.