Hello, Leonard.  We were talking about - -

 JH> Or, lets think of a simple-minded experiment -  get out on Interstate,
 JH> going 70MPH, and take along a piece of say 8"x8"x8" styrofoam
 JH> insulation.  Hold it out the window at that constant speed, then turn
 JH> it loose - I think you already know that you can expect that you will
 JH> see it decelerate rapidly wrt your constant-velocity vehicle, due to
 JH> the force of wind friction on it.  The air friction effect would be
 JH> even more dramatic at higher vehicle velocity

 LE> Yep, also consider that it may have been a chunk of ice...

That would have been my first guess,  but the Columbia Accident
Investigation Board seems to be focusing in in on the insulation impact
thing.  There is another press briefing scheduled for 11am this Friday,
7/11, which should "officialize" the results of the most recent test(s)
where that 1.67 pound chunk of insulation knocked a big-butt hole in one
of those $800,000 each carbon reinforced panels. Sometime after the
press briefings, they publish transcripts of the briefings and
roundtable discussions, and have available copies of the graphics and
photos used during the briefings. Their website is - -

www.caib.us

from the homepage, click on "News", then select "press
briefings".

Happy learning. - - -  JimH.

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