From what I have been able to pick up in the barrage, then trickles of
information, the shuttle was breaking up not long after re-entry.  They
suspect that there was some damage to the wheel well covers and the front
part of the left wing. Even though the designs of the shuttle were
relatively the same, for some reason the Challenger had a different tile
configuration, a bit "rougher" and a more tedious layout than the others,
making it more vulnerable upon damage.  So they think, at least
unofficially, that the foam fragments that fell off the booster rocket
during take off may have done some damage to the tiles and the wheel well
covers.  And since the temp gets up to about 3000 degrees, and the
underlying aluminum melts at what 800 degrees, they didn't have a chance
even over California.  So when those gauges freaked out over Texas, the heat
was in and the shuttle was breaking up.  Apparently there analysis of the
damage after take off was a bit too optimistic.  Another theory is all of
that space junk out there hit them on the way in.  Unfortunately, flying at
Mach 12 has its inherent dangers.


Rob Cagnetta

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