I have a question about the Shuttle ET. The first 2 flights STS-1 and STS-2 used the painted ET. After that, for weight reduction, the ET was not painted. Is there any information on those 2 launches about foam shedding? Could the paint have sealed the foam in such a way that prevented shedding? Just a thought. Perhaps a lightweight paint or sealer of some sort could be used now.

Am reading “Riding Rockets” now, and Mike Mullane said on his first flight, during the launch he heard the pilots say “Look at that” referring to them seeing foam shedding off the tank. They weren’t concerned because they didn’t think the foam was heavy enough to do any damage. Kind of a funny aside is that just before lift off Judy Resnik said “I don’t want any of you up there saying look at that”. Referring to the crew up front with a view of things noticing something going wrong.