I've just been reading some of the infamous Australian coke bottle claims and I have a question.

The claim is that as Armstrong is about to step onto the surface there is a picture quality change and that some residents continues to see the original broadcast. I always wondered about this quality change.

In the movie "The Dish" it is explained that due to Buzz and Neils eagerness to walk, the landing site is too low in the Australian sky to steer the big Parkes dish onto it. Quote from the film "The next stops concrete". So they switch to the offset which presumably is more maneuverable. A few minutes later as Armstrong climbs down the ladder the main dish gets the picture and they switch to it, thus improving the picture quality.

Is this true? I've been trying to confirm it but I can't find too much about it. The directors commentry seems to indicate that this was the actual reason for the change.

If it is true it would indicate that there was no additional broadcast and would put another nail in the highly dubious coke bottle claim!

Ps

Another question for you rocketheads (to settle a friendly discussion). During a normal shuttle launch the external tank is jettesoned in such a way as to ensure its re-entry....correct ?? Would it be possible for the shuttle orbiter to carry the external tank into orbit??