Space Shuttle take-off II - flying debris

[brachiopod]

Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what the piece of debris was seen flying off immediately after the fuel tank jettison?

My suggestion would be a McDonalds wrapper thrown out of the cockpit window.

[MargeB]

LOLOL.

I'd like to have been there when they drove THAT thru'.

This story is getting "funnier" by the minute.

NASA 'annoyed' at speculation about falling debris, and subsequent over speculation.

Then NASA 'investigating' possible heat shield tile damage and bird strike.

Welllllllll, ehxcuse me!!! You were aware of the damage last time, but chose to ignore your engineers' warnings and fly 7 innocents to their deaths. Do pardon us if we get a little jumpy when, after a ton of tests and retests, your ancient hulk is sent skywards again and bits start 'falling off it'.

To be honest, I am completely bewildered. So...you can build a craft to go to space, to deliver stuff to another craft, but you can't build one that stays in one piece? What's going on?

[tony1941]

If you are worried about the shuttle, read the report on the Challenger disaster by Richard Feynman at this link: http://www.ralentz.com/old/space/feynman-report.html   I don't think I would risk it!

[RipedForskin]

At the speed that thing is travelling I reckon it was a brown ring.