The part that burned was damaged from early on, likely at, or right after, separation. So the integrity of that flap was already very compromised. I actually th

The part that burned was damaged from early on, likely at, or right after, separation. So the integrity of that flap was already very compromised. I actually thought the flap would disintegrate on re-entry with that kind of damage. But no, they even put full stress on it, unfolding it while supersonic through the atmosphere, like a champ.