[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?

[Cold Heat]

What bothers me is that the shuttle has had the hell beat out of it before, by ice, foam and whatever. I agree that the doors are in fact the most sensitive or all the areas.

The fact that the shuttle began loosing tiles over California, and some bigger parts over Nevada and arizona, lead me to believe the damage was not minor dents, but serious damage and or a failure of some sort.

Could be a mechanical failure, a space debris strike, a meteorite or some other thing that had zilch to do with the tank.

Still looking and unconvinced.

[Thud]

I agree with the first part of your secondary theory. IMO the tile-shedding began at the trailing edge. I'm still uncertain as to whether the final loss of control was due to increasing port drag eventually overpowering the ability of the control mechanisms to maintain stability, or there was a final catastrophic event causing loss of control - mostly likely an elvon burn-through.