[ez]

Just *prior* to the big break-up, there were several larger 'somethings' that came off the shuttle and dropped back (slowed down) markedly from the shutle ... this is EASILY viewable on the video taken by WFAA CH 8 in Dallas.

You can see one easily identifiable piece of debris near the beginning that falls "above" the contrail. It is a large piece of silvery reflective sheet metal that is spinning...the rotation is evident. It seems this is a piece of the outer skin of the craft, possibly a plate from the left wing.

[_Jim]

falls "above" the contrail.

Yes, an optical illusion, *seemingly* rises above, given the direction the main bulk of the shuttle was heading, but was actually moving away laterally for the most part (initially) and appearing to fall above ...