Charles Angelich wrote the following to Charles Jennings, and I quote (in part):

CJ>> Well, I see we disagree again ;-). NASA knew it WAS broken
CJ>> and didn't fix it. They judged it to be an acceptable risk.
CJ>> And that judgement had catastrophic results. 

 CA> Where are you getting this information? 

   I don't know about you but if I am blasting off on a rocket and
parts start flying off, I going to consider it broken ;-).

   I am not sure they know exactly what happened at this point.  But
the preliminary that I heard though it might have been heat
related.  If tiles are flying off a take off I wouldn't be surprised
that there was a heat problem.  But again, what do I know about
space vehicles? ;-)

    Later, 
      Charles

... I operate a space bar, Quark said blankly.
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