[sobieski]

I just saw the WFAA footage; it didn't look like the shuttle was moving at 12,500 miles/hr or that it was at 200,000 feet. Yet the FBI already discounting terrorism?

[af_vet_rr]

I just saw the WFAA footage; it didn't look like the shuttle was moving at 12,500 miles/hr or that it was at 200,000 feet. Yet the FBI already discounting terrorism?

Considering it was going to cover the distance between North Texas and Florida in less than 15 minutes...I would say that was pretty fast.

I just got off the phone with friends who live in Lufkin, Texas, they have/had debris coming down all around them and around Huntington and that area. Another indication of just how fast and how high they were going.

[Paul Ross]

With the extreme magnification, and the clear skies, the video tracking of the shuttle re-entry was actually consistent with Mach 18.5 and 39 miles up. How do you think they can coast from Texas to Florida unpowered?

Although they were well past the black-out phase, they still were in a dynamic speed situation that required the thermal protection of the shuttle tiles, etc. To have tried to bail at those speeds would have literally ripped an astronaut apart, AND burned them up. This was a very sorry end to a wonderful crew. Prayers to all the families, and for our nation to seek after His grace in this tragedy.