[rintense]

Ah... ok, this makes sense. But could an exploding tire cause severe damage to the shuttle? Aren't tiles coming off an acceptable part of the flight?

[Chad Fairbanks]

My personal opinion, based on absolutely ZERO knowledge of anything remotely related to this, is that the 'Tire Pressure' loss was probably due to heat extreme enough to melt the tires... it would have to be pretty darned hot, however... but then, I could just be talking out my a$$, and have no qualms about saying so...

:0(

[Dog]

Depends....if the tiles came off over a senstive area of the underbelly.....it could cause and explosion ....remember it is generating thousands of degrees of heat during reentry..