The next test target was panel 8, which had flown twenty-six times on Atlantis. Evidence from the reconstructed debris and the OEX recorder indicated that panel 8 was the site of the impact on Columbia’s wing. At the test on Monday, July 7, the impact from the foam block blew a huge hole through the panel about sixteen inches by sixteen inches across, created several other cracks, and caused the T-seal to fail between panels 8 and 9. This was entirely consistent with the type of damage postulated to have caused Columbia’s demise. Witnesses were incredulous, but the evidence was
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