The main problem on the antiquated space shuttles is the heat-resistant tiles. They're extremely expensive, and not very good. They're so soft you could problably crush a piece with your hands, which means they're easily damaged during flight (and we've seen the fatal results of that).
The tiles are not so fragile as you suggest. And neither of the orbiter losses can be attributed to the tiles. Columbia's demise resulted from a hole in the reinforced carbon-carbon panel on the leading edge of the port wing.
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Heh, heh. He said "standard orbit." ;)
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The main problem on the antiquated space shuttles is the heat-resistant tiles. They're extremely expensive, and not very good. They're so soft you could problably crush a piece with your hands, which means they're easily damaged during flight (and we've seen the fatal results of that). The tiles are not so fragile as you suggest. And neither of the orbiter losses can be attributed to the tiles. Columbia's demise resulted from a hole in the reinforced carbon-carbon panel on the leading edge of the port wing.