[Jewels1091]

What I got out of it was the wiring for the flaps pass THROUGH that wheel well. So, if there was a problem with heat, the computers were probably trying to correct the problem and the flaps WERE NOT getting the signals! If something DID fall off over California, it HAD to be from UNDER the wind. That piece of foam hit the TOP of the wing on take off.

[CedarDave]

Foam/ice hit the underside. On takeoff, vehicle rolls over on its back.

[Budge]

That piece of foam hit the TOP of the wing on take off.

Slo-mo video showes it hitting leading edge of wing, then going under the wing.

[Braak]

Yah know, you're right, how's this for a theory...Burnthru occurs and knocks out wiring to flaps on Left Wing..FCS, like any computer, does what it's programmed to, trouble is, with no flaps on the left wing responding, it ends up rolling the shuttle and tearing the Shuttle apart

[Cboldt]

That piece of foam hit the TOP of the wing on take off.

Top of the wing was hot too (bond line indicator is on top of wing.) Dunno if the heat went from top to botoom, instead of bottom to top, but imagine that is possible. Plasma all over that vehicle.

[hc87]

What I got out of it was the wiring for the flaps pass THROUGH that wheel well. So, if there was a problem with heat, the computers were probably trying to correct the problem and the flaps WERE NOT getting the signals! If something DID fall off over California, it HAD to be from UNDER the wind. That piece of foam hit the TOP of the wing on take off.

Which seems to suggest that the piece of foam is a red herring and that cause of the loss is someplace else. Could it be the wheel well door? I got a sense that's what the reporter was asking whent he guy with the glasses said, in effect, "yeah that's where I'm going but I don't want to jump to conclusions and ignore another important piece of data by focusing on this." Did I hear this right?