They changed the glue formulation for adhering the foam to the external tank. That change was made at the request (pressure?) from the EPA. I know people inside NASA resisted.with the new formulation, serious problems started.
We have a right to know the name of the person that made the decision to change the glue formulation. That person should be shamed for eternity.
I worked on the Shuttle Flight Control Design team at Honeywell. NASA has become very bureaucratic as is most agencies.
Still it grates me to no end that the history doesn't highlight the fact that evil humans at the EPA are the primary cause of the Columbia disaster.
Thank you for adding the clarity.These were seven more sacrifices to the god of political correctness and scientific hoaxing.
Then came the Muslim president to change the mission of NASA from the new frontier to "Muslim outreach."
America's best minds and boldest aeronauts deserve our support to achieve humanity's destiny--not be cast into the shadows.
I remember that day well, waiting and watching in horror. I think it was best not to tell them, and I believe they would have made the choice to try re-entry anyway. They knew the dangers involved and would have said any prayers - if they were pray-ers.