That is one piece of mis-information that seems to be out there about this flight's tank, ET-121, that the ramp was done with the revised processes. The PAL Ramp (Protuberance Air Load Ramp) is at least about 30 feet long on the hydrogen tank. To strip and re-do the LH2 tank/Intertank area flange closeout (one of the tank improvements for RTF), the LH2 PAL Ramp in that area (the forward portion of the ramp) needed to be removed. There was A LOT of discussion/analysis on whether to remove the remaining aft portion of the ramp and re-do it with the new and improved processes too. The final decision, after much much agonizing, was to leave the original aft ramp portion. Much of the thinking was that it was at least as risky doing the removal and replacement as just leaving the old one (if it ain't broke, don't jack with it). Well, unfortunately, the NASA/Lockheed Martin team was wrong on this one, as evidenced by the big PAL Ramp piece that came off. A lesson learned.

At least it did not strike any turbine powered aircraft!