[Political Junkie Too]

Since the space between the fuel tank and the shuttle is constricted, wouldn't this cause the air to rush through it at an accelerated rate? Would that cause any object that fell into that channel to propel at an increased rate than otherwise?

-PJ

[bonesmccoy]

Perhaps. Bernoulli would be proud of you :)

There are several frames of video with the object above the attach bars. Only one frame of video with it below.

My verdict is you are correct!

[r9etb]

Since the space between the fuel tank and the shuttle is constricted, wouldn't this cause the air to rush through it at an accelerated rate? Would that cause any object that fell into that channel to propel at an increased rate than otherwise?

The Shuttle was supersonic at this point. It's difficult to say exactly what's going on in there, but I would think there's a lot of strange shock wave action going on in there, and turbulence as well. So the air is certainly rushing through the gap, but it's difficult to say what this would mean for a chunk of something.