Why is it that NASA doesn't have me convinced that the foam falling off is the real problem? The shuttle's all of them have had problems with the porcelain tiles falling off... remember when the big news item was the count of missing tiles at the end of each flight. Is it possible the (Aeropoxy) is just getting old So then unfortunately the most recent Columbia flight had some fall off that were in more critically important locations.

I don't know why the foam excuse just doesn't ring true to me... am I screwed up in my thinking? Seems to me anything falling off of the tanks may hit the shuttle yea OK, but even if it were steel wouldn't it hit at a relatively slow closure speed? Sorta like the Blue Angles bumping at 300 MPH while moving in the same direction no big deal...
Lee H. DeMary
AMA 36099