Re: My friend's theory on the Columbia disaster
I'm posting a bit of an article ( as registration required on this site) from the NY Times that I believe is relevant.
>>>Dr. Fischbeck of Carnegie Mellon said that in addition to holding the wheels and landing gear, the wheel wells and adjoining areas also held many fuel and oxygen tanks, as well as hydraulic lines that control the shuttle's flight surfaces. "So that combination of things made the tiles that protected those areas important," he said<<<
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/05/national/05FOAM.html
unless of course your friend is Dr. Fischbeck :)