Using the scientific method in real life!!

Yesterday my students watched a NOVA video about the shuttle Columbia's failed re-entry.  If you would like to watch this video, you can go to Nova Shuttle Video.  One of the sobering ideas here, is that the engineers who witnessed the foam hit the wing, were not able to assess and predict what damage may have been done  (and in fact was) to the wing.  The scientific community is a funny thing, sometimes we are all about sharing a findings and getting input from as many people as possible.  Other times, we are so afraid of what others may say, that we don't share information, that could potentially save lives.  What would have happened.. what potential outcomes could have changed, if NASA would have shared that video footage with the scientific community and asked for feedback?  That is why I am so passionate about my students make blogs and sharing information.