[XBob]

thanks for the ping and acknowledgements SC.

I want to toss this out for evaluation again. I ran the film of todays test. It is very clear, and very clearly, not where the foam impacted.

Everyone has seemed to ignore the fact that the original impact point of the foam was not on the leading edge RCC, but down on the more central part of the wing, on the thermal tiles, near the wheel well - not the RCC.

This is plain as day from the original films we have been using since the beginning.

In addition, the weight of the foam chunk magically went from 2.5 lbs to 1.5 lbs, with no explanation.


I really would like to see some tests with the proper weight and size of the chunk, and the proper location of the impact.


I am about to the point, where I won't trust anything coming out from the investigation board.

[DoughtyOne]

Two things stuck out in yesterday's test. Location wasn't dead on, and tiles were not affixed.

Both will leave us demanding more tests for anything conclusive. And after all, does anyone really think this was about anything other than stalling?

What investigation that involved our federal government has been run professionally in the last decade?

[NormsRevenge]

I'm with you on this whole testing scenario... and the board.

imho, these tests, while having some limited value, are and never can be an accurate reflection of what occurred that launch day.

When they showed a clip of test #7, I almost laughed at what they were doing. They said the angle that they shot the foam allowed them to more accurately imitate the rolling effect the chunk(s) of foam took that day.

CAIB, just issue the report and get on with the "process".

[Carry_Okie]

I am about to the point, where I won't trust anything coming out from the investigation board.

Remember all the weaseling by NASA and Morton/Thiokol after the Challenger accident? They had to bring in Feynman to bring out the obvious.

[computermechanic]

I think this was the last test and was perhaps only supposed to identify what the maximum amount of damage that the lightest possible piece of foam from the bipod area could do... a fatal amount of damage, easily.

Very probably, the actual shuttle damage could have been seen from a military satellite. We hear about being able to read a newspaper headline from satellites, and you wouldn't even have to look thru any atmosphere to image the shuttle! The AMOS telescope on the ground could probably see the damage from this last test.