[I_dmc]

how could it be foam damage? that's not where the debris hit on launch.

[DSH]

how could it be foam damage? that's not where the debris hit on launch.

Not according to this article:

"The initial NASA Mission Management Team (MMT) assessment of the debris impact made Jan. 18, two days after launch, noted "The strike appears to have occurred on or relatively close to the "wing glove" near the orbiter fuselage.

"The term "wing glove" generally refers to the area where the RCC bolt-on material is closest to the fuselage. This is also the general area where USAF imagery shows structural damage."

[Lancey Howard]

how could it be foam damage? that's not where the debris hit on launch.

If I swing a baseball bat at the top of a fence post, it will probably break off, or crack, at the bottom.