[Righter-than-Rush]

WHY WASN'T THE FLIGHT ABORTED AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS KNOWN? The shuttle was still well inside the atmosphere at the time the wing was damaged. Assuming he had this information in time, the flight director should have aborted the flight, had the crew jetison the tank and boosters, and glided back to Kennedy. What good are safety measures if theyre not used? Of what value are contingency plans against such danger if they are not called? How much money would it cost to delay the flight due to potential damage, compared to pushing the flight through and living with the risk? Such a risk of losing heat tiles, etc. is not a risk I would take.

Of course, rocket scientists are smarter than me. I simply have a gift of common sense.

[Physicist]

WHY WASN'T THE FLIGHT ABORTED AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS KNOWN?

First of all, we still don't know that there was any damage at all.

Second, they didn't notice the bit of foam falling until they analyzed the film after the fact. The Shuttle was in orbit by then.

[WoofDog123]

"Of course, rocket scientists are smarter than me. I simply have a gift of common sense."

My understanding is that this event was not detected until hours after launch, as tapes of the launch were reviewed.