[G-Bear]

Even if pieces were coming off the Shuttle over California,
at that height and speed, would they have made it to the
ground? Or burnt up?

[tubebender]

Even if pieces were coming off the Shuttle over California, at that height and speed, would they have made it to the ground? Or burnt

I would like the answer myself. I read yesterday that the Forest Service has alerted it's field crews in the Ca counties under the flight path to be on the lookout for pieces. Fat chance as those counties are the higher elevations of the Sierras including Yosemite. I can't remember them all but I think Amador and Calavaris were a couple.

[b4its2late]

Even if pieces were coming off the Shuttle over California, at that height and speed, would they have made it to the ground? Or burnt up?

My question exactly. Real small pieces of space junk and other natural debris burns up when it's hitting the beginning atmosphere.....

[PatriotGames]

Even if pieces were coming off the Shuttle over California,
at that height and speed, would they have made it to the
ground? Or burnt up?

I would think that it would depend upon the size and composition of the object as to whether or not it would make it to the ground or burn up.

When the shuttle was over California it was faster and higher than when it got to Texas. On the other hand, the atmosphere was less dense at the higher altitude so it would be anyone's guess as to whether or not any objects would survive or not.

[jlogajan]

Even if pieces were coming off the Shuttle over California, at that height and speed, would they have made it to the ground? Or burnt up?

Well, the most important things coming off the shuttle would be the tiles, and no, they wouldn't burn up.

[Walkingfeather]

Yea they would make it. the reason none have been recovered is the vast desolate terrain of the seirra's and the desert.

[Yeti]

I would think that at that height and speed even if they didn't burn up, they wouldn't land in California, unless the shuttle was travelling legthwise over the state. I would expect to find them one or two states over, if at all.