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To: Illbay
All the information currently available points to deterioration of the Shuttle vehicle integrity in the left wing, probably occurring mostly, at first, ahead of, or nearby, the left main landing gear wheel well.

The Shuttle was in a 57 degree left bank (as part of its entry flight attitude procedures known as the Roll Schedule, I am given to understand), meaning it was rolled along its center line axis with left wing low, and right wing high.

A staggered series of sensor failures and reading anomalies occurred; sensors intended to measure the temperature of the airframe (not the surface of the airframe) indicated 45 degrees higher on the left than right, sides.

There was indication of a left elevon above normal which caused the Shuttle to roll further to the left.

The Shuttle autopilot attempted a corrective roll to the right.

Thereabouts in the timeline, the temperature and pressure sensors for the left in-board and left out-board main landing gear tires, quit, ie. as they say, "went off-scale low."

That prompted the Shuttle's computers to alert the flight crew. Mission Control asked the crew if they saw the message on their displays. The Shuttle Commander began a response, promptly interrupted by we don't know what ... near the top of the hour.

And we do not yet know what initially caused the deterioration of the left wing.

12 posted on 02/02/2003 7:28:07 PM PST by First_Salute
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To: First_Salute
As plain an explanation as I've seen. Thanks.
15 posted on 02/02/2003 7:36:54 PM PST by Howlin
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To: First_Salute
This started at re-entry it was on fire from the start!
24 posted on 02/02/2003 7:48:58 PM PST by TLBSHOW (God Speed as Angels trending upward dare to fly Tribute to the Risk Takers)
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