[spunkets]

Some of the detail is lost due to the MPEG compression, but you can still use Quicktime to "arrow key" through the frames to get size and velocity ests. The debris didn't pick up much velocity in that ~1000mph airstream, linear or rotational, which indicates it was a lot more massive than foam.

[XBob]

excellent observation:

"The object in the film resists picking up velocity in that ~1000mph wind, that means it's massive. Also the explosive disintegration when the object impacted the wing manifests very high velocity dust particles extending out to a great distance. That means the dust particles themselves are quite massive. Very fine, light particle would never maintain that kind of velocity in air. They don't have the momentum to maintain significant relative velocity for any appreciable distance. "

Now, look at the first mpeg in full screen at high resolution, and you will see the white object first visible approximately at the back of the black color on the nose of the shuttle, then it proceeds upwards to approximately the top of the nose, then it moves back down and a second white object appears, then disappears.

I read a study of the turbulence in the area between the shuttle and the tank, a few years back. and remember that the turbulence in this portion of the stream is very high. I don't remember the relative wind information, but do remember that near the nose it is very slow.

Now look at the second and third mpegs in high resolution full screen and you will see the underside of the wing (very fuzzy) and the subsequent hit and spread of debris of something. It is quite visible (position wise) though mostly various colored pixels.

But, on my 17", .23dpi monitor, and high resolution graphics card, I need to put it on full screen to see it. However, once you blow it up to full screen, it's blatantly there, especially on the 3rd mpeg.

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