Many dont seem to understand that the Columbia is a glider, not a jet plane. It has some rocket pack for course correction but not for jetting around the neighborhood. In fact, the Shuttles have only one shot at landing. They cant turn around and try another approach to the runway. They are not powered. They are free falling from space.
I'm seeing a heck of a lot of people online and co-workers (here on the Space Coast who should know better), jump to conclusions based on lack of knowledge about the shuttle program.
They're attacking NASA and proposing all kinds of things "NASA should have done".
It's disheartening.