[snopercod]

This is really sad. Time was, the astronauts were briefed on every little thing that went wrong or was unexplained.

I guess this must be the "faster, better, cheaper" paradigm...

[XBob]

Well, SC, thanks for the ping. it appears that your theory of the Palmdale rebuild problem, and flying w/o crashing, has some proof in some pudding - 1997-2000 vs 1999-2003.

Flying with unknown internal damage.

It seems to me, we don't know what is inside of any of the orbiters, sort of like cancer before the days of the x-ray.

How many more places have plasma leaks eaten up interior componenents?

[XBob]

somehow I missed this one. thanks.