You may have a chance to hear the re-entry of the space shuttle Discovery today.

Jim Greathouse, a Kansas native and NASA aerospace engineer, said if the shuttle enters on the first pass, it would cross to the southwest of Lawrence and pass overhead about 11:45 a.m. A sonic boom will be audible between 11:46 a.m. and 11:52 a.m., Greathouse said. He suggested heading to a quiet place for the best experience and said the boom will sound like a short and distinct version of rumbling thunder with two thumps – bow shock and wake shock waves.

Greathouse suggested visiting spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts120/status.html for the latest updates, and if the site indicates the shuttle will do a de-orbit burn, the shuttle will pass overhead.

The shuttle launched from Kennedy Space Center Oct. 23. Greathouse, whose mother, Marilyn Greathouse, works for Kansas University’s School of Engineering, said the daytime re-entry means it won’t be possible to see the shuttle’s impressive plasma tail.