Mike Dennis wrote:
[...]
Nobody know, huh? On this group I've heard of a lot of design points argued
that "it has to be designed this way due to reentry buffeting and loads".
But it doesn't really seem like any of us know, do we?

Well, Ken Iliff and Mary Shafer probably know. I'd take a look at
either Ken's book, or papers by either/both on the NASA servers. The
certainly know about "early trip" of the airflow (laminar detachment?).

Story Musgrave appearently knows, since he did his cowboy trick of
standing during early entry phases.

/dps