[Cold Heat]

I looked at that and I cannot refute what you say, however the photos shown by NASA today do not show any reflective white areas of damage that should be evident if it was there.

A chunk of styro foam would certainly cause no structural damage like dislodging the locking pin or what ever, so what did happen?

It could be as simple as the possibility that the door was not latched.

NASA has by it's own words, eliminated the ice theory. (they would know, because the crew viewed the tank on separation and likely saw the missing piece)

I am still looking for the cause. I cannot satisfy myself with the foam theory and neither can NASA.

[XBob]

wire - just a minor compression in the foam (yes it can be compressed) at a place where it has immediate support (edge of door), compared to a place where it has less immediate support (more toward middle of door), could cause a significant change in aerodynamics.

In addition, I seriously doubt that the ground cameras would pick up some of the types of tile damage I have personally seen - eg 1" rather circular chips in the tiles, sort of like throwing a handfull of gravel against a safety glass window.

Though, I have a secondary theory about losing tiles on the trailing edge of the wing and the burn through of the main elevon control shaft (which I also saw once, burned 3/4 of the way through).

But these mpegs are the only actual pictures I have seen of the actual impact of the foam, no matter how poor they are.

There is absolutely no way that the door was not originally latched. (just too many inspections)

Blackie - you have a computer set up similar to mine. What do you see?