They could save a lot of fuel if they just flew in a straight line.
djm
Take the home celestial mechanics’ course. With that kind of thinking you would make a fine celestial mechanic!
Take a look again at the zig zag track of that smoke plume to understand my meaning.
djm
Interesting picture 
and I have questions 
…
I don’t know much about rocket science, other than that propulsion takes place via a semi-contained explosion (and, hey, don’t you think those zig zags in the plume were caused by wind? – maybe the exhaust output has different densities at different engine stages – or something – I doubt the astros would want us to blame their bad driving) so I’m wondering…
Is the plume just behind the shuttle glowing brightly because:
a) bad fuel efficiency – some of the propellant is still burning, just not inside the shuttle;
b) it’s actually hot, expelled propellant byproducts that are burning when they contact the air outside the shuttle;
c) it’s just a trick of the light;
d) some other fancy, rocket-sciency kind of answer;
e) all or none of the above (for those that always seem to want this option)
??
Just curious. Really.
I believe you’re seeing the last light of the setting sun shining on the plume.
That’s what’s casting the shadow towards the full moon.
–James
sunlight hitting the plume at a given altitude. Nothing more. Simple.
The zigzags are from the wind, and partly the camera angle - the shuttle goes up in an arc. The wind is pushing around the plume, and a combination of that and the camera angle causes the big zig at the top.
You guys are no fun at all. 
djm
spoilsports, the lot of 'em 
They may have spoiled the sport, but they made my day.
When I first saw the picture it was at night, and the bright part of the plume appeared to blaze off my monitor. Now, with the light of day washing out my computer screen, it looks so much more pedestrian. Just some smoke. Kind of a bittersweet resolution.
Or maybe I’ve been reading too much sci-fi.
Thanks for answering my curiosty question, everyone. 