I am not using any technical terms; it is what exactly happened in simple language.
- During the time of launch of the shuttle, there was a small piece of material which scratched out of the rocket.
[ Remember, how space engines are fired; there used to be a rocket and upon which the flight will be placed].
- The size of this small piece of material which came out is equivalent to a office suitcase that we use.
- This particle while dispatching itself -- when it came out of the rocket hit the wings of the space shuttle therby creating a small hole in one of the wings (left wing) of the shuttle.
The left wing of the shuttle also contains heat sensors.
- Nobody noticed this at the time of launch
- There was no problem when the rocket went up; nor was their any problem during the journey in space
- It was time to return
- Remember, a space shuttle does not require any rocket to venture back in to the earth surface. Because of the gravitational force of earth any object can enter the earth surface easily; only when we want to go out of earth surface we require a rocket to escape from the gravitational force. And of course you might have been aware of the escape velocity etc;
- When the space shuttle was returning back to earth it is normally inclined at a angle of 45% with its nose up; similar to have a aeroplane lands.
- During this time there is a huge amount of heat wave that is generated outside the space shuttle
- The wings are designed in such a way that they keep this heat wave outside and prevent it from reaching inside the shuttle.
- Even in 'Discovery' space shuttle one of the astronaut just minuted has quoted "wow! it is like we are in a heat furnace".
- Now, you know that there is a small opening created during the launch which no body is aware off
- This opening allowed the heat to go inside the shuttle. One of one the 'Heat Sensors' failed. NASA during that time thought 'the failure of heat sensors as a technical failure'; they did not estimate the damage created during the launch.
- Once and all; all the heat sensors failed - which meant that heat was slowly going inside the shuttle and finally the space shuttle was blown off.
THIS IS WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED. We cannot blame anybody for this, it is purely a accident.
NASA as now decided to place cameras in the space shuttle and the rocket and the entire journey will be recorded live to avoid such accidents.
