NOTE: Shuttle Endeavour is mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters (SRB) in Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 1. The Shuttle interface test is in work through tomorrow afternoon. Tonight, technicians will begin sanding operations to remove a thin layer of the foam insulation on the STS-89 external tank, in a small area located near the SRB attach points. While investigations into the cause of Columbia’s unusual tile damage continue, managers hope the additional work will reduce the possibility of external tank foam debris contributing to Shuttle tile damage. Sanding the foam will not compromise the tank’s thermal protection and does not violate any engineering or design parameters. Endeavour will roll out to the launch pad no earlier than Dec. 17.
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/stsstat/1997/dec/12-15-97.htm
THAT'S IT! You've solved the puzzle! All the experts should now completely ignore the evidence and bow to your obviously superior knowledge!
You know, that same diagnosis fits about EVERYTHING that was at one time in it's infancy!
I'm not on one one side or another here as I haven't looked into this matter, but, my experience tells me that often times these problems are not always as they appear on the surface ...
NASA engineers also are looking at unusual tile damage to shuttle Columbia during its last flight, and want to understand the problem before allowing Endeavour to fly.
Columbia returned to Earth on Dec. 5, 1997 with 318 dents in its protective tiles - more than twice the 150 usually found. The tiles shield the ship from extreme heat when it leaves orbit and re-enters the atmosphere on its way home.