Columbia Lost.

[System]

@ Nick:

1. STS 107.

2. I thought of tile-sensors two, but then I realized that it's not practical:
Too many tiles, sending too much information - more systems that can go wrong.
Wiring, that needs rebuilding of a whole chassis,  and ads to the over-all weight.

It may be practical in a new shuttle, though (if they don't use some new insulation technique).

3. I remember the Chalenger. I was 17.

[Nick]

I know of the practicalities, but something has to be done. They can`t go on using the current method really.

Though if they had a small drone fitted with a camere and using a remote link to the shuttle, they could manually inspect the exterior. It does look likely it was the insulation hitting the leading edge of the left wing though.

Only STS 107? I`d have thought they`d done much more than that, by now. That means they`ve only done 29 missions in 7 years. Thats not many especially when they are making the ISS.

If you want a book on the shuttle get the one written by some guy Jenkins. I haven`t got the most uptodate edition yet, as it only covers missions upto STS 75. Though it does cover the development and specifications of the shuttle so well. This will just create another section in the next edition like the Challenger section.

I had a plastic model of Challenger at the time of the accident. I wish I still had it.

[Nick]

I just heard that it could have been a meteorite, but then that was going to be brought up eventually as a theory at least.