[WillVoteForFood]

Given the speed that both the shuttle and the piece of debris would have been moving when this event occurred, how hard would debris have impacted the wing?

[Atchafalaya]

IMOH it was the wing that failed for whatever reason and pitched the fuselage broadside to the airstream tearing it apart.

[Atchafalaya]

I reply again as I realize you were speaking about the launch. Once again was it foam or ice. Huge difference in density and the chunk of debris' ability to cause damage. How fast; we'll find out soon, as NASA will be agonizing over their "ok" no harm done descison.