[volchef]

This is so sad. These poor people were dead just seconds after liftoff.....they just didn't know it. My heart is just breaking. I grew up on the space coast and I am just aching over this.

[Cynderbean]

Isn't there still the option to abort the flight after launch before the shuttle leaves the earths atmosphere? I know that time is short in that margin but it seems there would be some sort of contingency or emergency procedures that would apply.

[Stingray51]

Just because the consensus view is that "nothing could have been", I don't think we should accept that until all the evidence is in. Obviously, if NASA was or should have been aware of the problem prior to the landing attempt, it is in NASA interest to spread the word that the vessel's fate was sealed at takeoff. Time will tell whether that is true.

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

These poor people were dead just seconds after liftoff.....

Not true. They could have waited for the next shuttle to get them (leaving the Columbia in orbit).