KRT Wire | 04/18/2003 | History of foam damage: "Posted on Fri, Apr. 18, 2003

History of foam damage
BY MARY SHANKLIN
The Orlando Sentinel

(KRT) - Throughout the space-shuttle program, insulating foam has separated from the external fuel tank and pummeled the orbiters during liftoff. Damage from foam debris is the leading suspect in the Feb. 1 Columbia disaster. The Orlando Sentinel built a database of more than 10,000 hits to the shuttle in 82 flights. (Data for the other 31 shuttle flights is unavailable from NASA.) The findings show that the space agency has tried to prevent the problem but with no success. Here are 10 significant debris incidents and how NASA reacted to them:"

SNIP

Will spend more time later. LRK -