[isthisnickcool]

The dimbulbs weighing in here are so convinced that it MUST have been foam are talking out of their collective rear end. They haven't got a single clue -- they simply assume that everything is a conspiracy.

See my post above. I've been told by people that know that there were issues with "foam/ice" hitting the shuttle. Supposedly, on STS-105 a big enough piece traveling fast enough to put a good dent in the SRB. A piece of gear that's tough. Tough enough that they recycle it. Insiders say that "they should have grounded the fleet after that". And "that the skipper of that flight should have raised hell."

People like Dittemore did not listen. And they are going to pay the price. I'm not a "dimbulb" nor do I assume "everything is a conspiracy". My current views are based on what insiders are saying.

The NASA suits have themselves a problem. That's not spittle. BTW, initally, I had the same basic view you do now.

Off the topic a bit. I placed some flowers at the entrance of NASA in the the name of all Freepers last Saturday. I took some photos. Also some of the President yesterday at Ellington field. And some more from the front of NASA a couple of hours ago. They are here if anyone wants to look at them.

[Cold Heat]

A piece of gear that's tough

Not so tough, depending on where the stuff hit it. The outer sheet metal cowling is jut that. A thin sheet metal cowling with no structural strength. Much less than a jap car.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Yeah, and my two former college engineering professors who used to work for NASA are talking out of their ass, too. They walked because management was becoming ever-more political and were getting too arrogant to listen to the engineers (in other words, they were reverting back to the pre-Challenger [mis]management style).

On this thread, anybody who doubts the arrogant political NASA management is wearing a foil hat.