[Dark Wing]

We seem to have some evidence for a upper atmosphere lightning strike. NASA has impounded NOAA infrasound recordings that may be the result of a "blue streamer" that may be concurrent with the shuttle break up.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/845614/posts

This is one that has me sweating bullets because we know jack about such upper level atmospheric phenomina. Other than developing plasma control technology to shield incoming shuttles, I don't see how we can restart shuttle flights if it is in the fault tree.

[Dark Wing]

Excuse me, the terminology was "Blue Jet," not "blue Streamer."

[SlipStick]

You might want to check this URL out. I'm sure you're aware that even though we're past the solar max, the sun still runs the show.

[XBob]

2425 - "We seem to have some evidence for a upper atmosphere lightning strike. "

In the early 70's, I was flying in a 707, and we were hit by lightning. A ball about 18" in diameter went down the center isle and out the rear. The radome nose blew off, the lights went out, the intercom went out, and we made an emergency landing. No apparent physical damage to the plane, they put on a new ra-dome, fixed the lights, and we continued on in the same plane, and as we got airborne the intercom went out again, and we did another emergency landing. We flew on in another plane.

I understand that the shuttle has much better lightning protection, and has been hit several times, and survived, though I had assumed it was on take off, don't know really, if landing or take off or plasma or not.

However, another interesting thing to point out - I understand that there was a big solar flare/phenomenon, scheduled to arrive at 9am the same time as the reentry problems.