I don't think anyone has a problem with discussing the theories. The problem was that the post was made with an "in your face" attitude. If you accept the premise that NASA did not know the shuttle was damaged until next day frame-by-frame review, the options of abort on launch become pretty pointless, as at the time NASA became aware of the possible problem, abort on launch was simply not an option at all. Now, logically, I think that pretty well refutes his original premise. When you do a post with an "AHA!", implied, as these lines indicate,
I have been pulling my hair out watching both the NASA press conferences and also the stupid reporters questions after the absolute tragedy of the Columbia disaster. They all say there was no way to save the ship... That is Nonsense!!
Remember the Challenger disaster where the launch control director was yelling RTLS RTLS after the explosion at 83 seconds? RTLS stands for Return To Launch Site. If 83 seconds was good enough for Challenger. Why wasn't 80 (or more) seconds good enough for Columbia?
it makes him sound kind of like Gilda Radner's old Emily Lattella character on Saturday Night Live. You and I disagree on a point, and I think we've had a very cordial discussion. This is because you treated me with respect in your post, and I hope you believe I have done the same.
Logically, for his original argument to hold water, he would have had to have been able to formulate some argument that NASA had reason to believe the shuttle was damaged prior to the time when the on launch abort ceased to be an option.
I had some questions about why NASA didn't, as a matter of course, slow shuttles down prior to re-entry. I received a very polite response explaining that the fuel requirements to do this would nearly double the weight of the shuttle, requiring a doubling in size, etc. I didn't get flamed, because I didn't phrase it in an inflammatory way.
Whether we should or shouldn't, I've found that on Freep most people respond to me in the same spirit I respond to them (with a few exceptions).
Take care