[HiJinx]

Tech discussion by engineers on original thread hypothesized a Main Landing Gear Door failure and subsequent structural damage...

[snopercod]

Thanks for the flag. FOX says the vehicle was travelling at Mach 18 at the time.

Still waiting on more info on the wheel-well temp or tire pressure, etc.

Recall on STS-1 when a number of tiles popped off at launch? The Air Force used some special cameras in Hawaii to look at the bottom of the shuttle. I wonder if they did that this time?

(The Columbia does not carry an RMS [the robot arm] with a camera on SpaceLab missions.)