[bonesmccoy]

You are correct regarding the gear.
It only extends in the last few seconds of the mission.

One of the shuttle CDR's was stating on CBS that at 250,000 feet you have a white glow of plasma around the vehicle.

[rintense]

Ok, so if the landing gear is still retracted, then what could cause a change in tire pressure? I highly doubt a tire explosion could rip a hole in the shuttle. It seems more likely that it was a loss of pressure in the lower area of the shuttle that went undetected that cause the tire pressure to change.

But, could a tire explosion have cause severe damage to the craft?