Posted by Ford Prefect [68.3.95.164 - ip68-3-95-164.ph.ph.cox.net] on 01 February 2003 at 23.40.25 ZuluTime:

In Reply to: Causes posted by Gremlin on 01 February 2003 at 23.23.57 ZuluTime:

I think people talking about any form of outside attack on the shuttle is ridiculous. Do these people have any idea how difficult it would be to shoot down a craft that was that high AND travelling at mach 18? They would have needed a heavy duty heat seeking laser guided EM pulse rail gun. Such technology is a pipe dream.

And the wing snapping off? That could have been caused by a damaged heat shield. If a crack appeared on the point of the fuselage where the wing connects, the heat from re-entry would split it wide open and would literally melt the wing off.