[isthisnickcool]

In 1999, the Southwest Research Institute, a non-profit laboratory in San Antonio, Texas, fired insulating foam fragments from a compressed-gas gun into thermal tiles and recorded the results with digital cameras. After the Columbia crash, NASA asked the institute not to release those results. The space agency also has tested the foam in wind tunnels and aboard a research jet."

Yep, here is the gun. I'd like to see some more data on who at NASA asked them not to release the report. And why. It's going to be released at some point. I didn't like the commentary in the heading when this thread started because I've seen no indication of NASA hiding data plus it did not match the actual articles heading.

If they try to keep the report private I'll certainly change my tune.

[fooman]

Thanks for keeping an open mind. The witholding part is the new news as far as I can see in the Mercury News.

[fooman]

BTW good find the pic showing the gun.

[Jael]

My opinion is this, I don't think they actually believed that what happened could of happened. I'm not looking for someone to blame for this. But I do believe that the trouble they are having in the press conference admitting what they did know and when is causing a bad situation to get even worse. And the leaked memo is just adding fuel to the fire.