I'm new here so forgive me if this question is just plain stupid. :)

I think it was in "The Right Stuff" that I read what a test pilot does when a malfunction occurs. He/She communicates. After a problem indicator they would immediately go into troubleshooting mode and relay that info to the controllers on the ground. "I tried " "I tried " and so on.

Why is there so little communication between the shuttle and NASA MC regarding the problem(s)? It seems as if the first communication about sensors failing is pretty much the last to/from Columbia. I understand that nothing could have been done to prevent the accident had this communication occurred; however, wouldn't it have helped in any investigation? Upon the indication of a sensor failure, wouldn't MC ask the pilot if he was seeing the same indicators? This is to satisfy my own personal curiosity and is no way a criticism of anyone involved. Thank you Kim for the post. I've never had a power point presentation send a chill down my spine before.