"Actually they didn't notice it until the next day when they were reviewing the launch films...MECO + 24 hours or so."
Well, that is after MECO. (Yours is the first confirm I had of that.) But it doesn't really change things. The entry would have been the same if they had found it at MECO +1 hr or MECO +10 days. Once the mains stopped they were doomed. At least they got to enjoy the flight.
Im listening to Drudge, watching Dr. Strangelove ,, But that;s not gonna stop me from asking ;-)
Anyone know how fast the shuttle was going 80 seconds after launch? Some folks are having a problem believing it could have damaged anything, I mean it was foam , right?