"Gareth Slee" <gar.slee@ntlworld.com> wrote in message

> If NASA are satisfied wing damage caused the tragedy, what do they plan on
> doing to avoid a similar incident?
>
> Some means of deflection?
> What could possibly be done to protect the shuttle from a similar
accident?

Some of the possibilities I have heard tossed about are:

1) flying ascent at a smaller (or slightly negative) alpha than they were
at - particularly at higher qbar. The idea is that this would take any
flying debris under and past the orbiter without contact.
2) discussion has already taken place on how to remove the foam-shedding
problem, either by removing the foam from the bipod ramp, or by covering it
with a metal cover.

Perhaps both of these would be done.  Does anyone recall from where on the
ET shedding has been seen before?  Also, given yesterdays test results, I
wonder if there will be any impetus to design and fabricate new RCC panels.

Jon