No Hint of Terrorism In Shuttle Tragedy

CBS News ^ | February 1, 2003

[HAL9000]

(CBS) The Bush administration said Saturday there was no indication that terrorism was behind the loss of the space shuttle Columbia on Saturday.

"There is no information at this time that this was a terrorist incident," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the Homeland Security Department. "Obviously the investigation is just beginning, but that is the information we have now."

A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no threat had been made against the flight, and the shuttle, at an altitude of about 203,000 feet over north-central Texas when it lost contact, was out of range of surface-to-air missiles.

FBI spokeswoman Angela Bell also said there was no indication of terrorism. She said the FBI would have a tangential role in the investigation, mainly assisting in evidence recovery.

Separately, a Nasa official said there was no evidence of sabotage.

"At this time we have no indication that the mishap was caused by anything or anyone on the ground," NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said.

Another senior law enforcement official said there had been some intelligence that raised concerns about a previously scheduled flight of Columbia, which was to have carried the same crew.

The intelligence, related to Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, was termed not credible, but the flight was postponed for other reasons. There had been no troubling intelligence regarding this flight, officials said, and they do not believe terrorism was involved.

CBS News Correspondent Howard Arenstein interviewed an Israeli intelligence expert, Alon Ben-Meir, who is a professor of terrorism and ethnic conflict at New York University.

Ben-Meir said his sources in Israeli intelligence had also come to the conclusion that it would have been virtually impossible for terrorists to have attacked the shuttle.

"They feel that because of the way it happened, the altitude, and the speed that there is no possibility that any kind of missile could have caused something like this," Ben-Mier said.

©MMIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[HAL9000]

Although a missile attack can almost be ruled out as a possibility, there are other forms of terrorism that must be considered.

Sabotage, a malicious attack on the computer systems that control reentry, or a flaw in the software are unlikely possibilities, but must still be investigated.

[Joe 6-pack]

I agree that there are no overt signs of terrorism at this time, but just to be safe, I think we should start bombing Iraq, just in case...

[Commander8]

All possibilities should be explored, frankly I don't think terrorism is involved because security at NASA(especially after Black Tuesday) is very tight.

[cynicalman]

I don't know. It was over Texas. How far from the grassy knoll? That is the high ground. Maybe enough for a hand held rocket to reach it.

[CharlotteVRWC]

See following excerpt from msn.com website (http://msnbc.com/news/857733.asp?0cv=CA00#BODY)

"Speaking on condition of anonymity, a U.S. official told NBC’s Miklaszewski that a heat spike appeared on military satellite data around the time shuttle was re-entering. The readings would be examined to see if they correlate to the shuttle’s breakup. The highly sensitive infrared satellite, known as the DSP, originally was developed to detect the heat spike of Soviet intercontinental missile launches. It also has been used to detect the heat signature of oil fires, volcanic eruptions and the explosion of TWA Flight 800 in 1996. "

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

Very, very unlikely. The fact that there was an Israeli on board would have caused the normal security levels to be tripled, at the very least.

The shuttle was so high and moving so fast, that we could not have shot it down ourselves, had we wanted to...stateless terrorists shooting it down is entirely impossible.

As for radio or computer tampering, that would leave fairly obvious evidence which would be found.

That leaves the option of putting a bomb on board or otherwise sabotaging the shuttle on the ground before takeoff, which is also extremely unlikely, but cannot be entirely ruled out before an investigation. One would think, though, that had there be sabotage, it would have destroyed the Shuttle on takeoff or in space, not on reentry.

[stevem]

I think flying into and out of space is still dangerous work and will be for some time in the future. And, we haven't even crossed paths with the Romulans yet...or the Borg.

[LibWhacker]

Have to lean toward accidental breakup. A missile is almost out of the question. However, the U.S. isn't the only country doing laser research and I wouldn't put it past N. Korea or one of the Arab states to take a pot shot at our shuttle.

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

Oh, that's your answer for everything.

[PhiKapMom]

Would expect this to be treated like an Air Force Accident Investigation where nothing is ruled out except the obvious like the missle being fired at the shuttle which was a no brainer when I first heard that one.

My guess is that everything will be gone over including the last overhaul at the factory with a fine tooth comb! Personally I hope they call in the AF Accident Investigators because I think they are much better than the NTSB. Just my opinion!

[humblegunner]

Somebody better bloody well hope not.

[Bobby777]

there's gonna be some crazy stuff posted on the web ... I can imagine a site or two that will involve who-knows-what?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

STATEMENT:"No Hint of Terrorism In Shuttle Tragedy"

RESPONSE: Given today's newspeak this means sabotage should be considered as a possibility.

[dark_lord]

Let's see here. If I understand some events that occurred here:
(1) A piece of debris (tank insulation) hit the wing on launch.
(2) There was no external space walk and skin inspection on this flight.
(3) They lost telemetry sensor data on from the same wing shortly before the casualty.

Before jumping on terrorism as the cause, I suggest it may just be that a bunch of tiles got loosened, on reentry they came off, and the wing started to combust at that spot, and the damage spread until the wing failed and the shuttle tumbled.

[river rat]

It would not be difficult to sabotage the Shuttle...and to have an event as we saw today..

Reenty generates extreme heat on the Nose and leading edges of the wings... These surfaces are protected by unique heat resistant tiles..

These tiles are bonded to the surfaces they protect.
An act that weakens the bond line sufficiently to allow reentry stress/heat to "pop" it away from the surface -- could expose the surface to sufficient heat on reentry to initiate burning and disintegration of the vehicle...

In addition....any "accidental" or unintended damage to enough tiles could possibly have the same effect.


Semper Fi

[eddie willers]

Yep.

"When you hear hoofbeats, look for horses...not zebras."

[Elenya]

One would think, though, that had there be sabotage, it would have destroyed the Shuttle on takeoff or in space, not on reentry.

Agreed. Why wait? Besides, it would be even more difficult (probably impossible) technically, which rules out sabotage IMO. Since the consensus is it can't be a missile, it has to be a malfunction.

Prayers for the crew and their families.

[netmilsmom]

I agree and besides there will always be someone who will find a link to something "spookie" (no X-Files pun intended).
If the US ever wanted the world behind them in blowing up Iraq, a terrorist act on the shuttle would be a great thing.
Go home folks, nothing to see here......

[mewzilla]

I wouldn't rule anything out yet. If it was sabotage, maybe it was done to occur on landing because you've got temps and stresses that would make it easier to do. They can't say jack either way. I just hope they're keeping an open mind about everything.

[Elenya]

If the US ever wanted the world behind them in blowing up Iraq, a terrorist act on the shuttle would be a great thing.

Yep! That's why the "We are happy that it broke up" we just heard from the Irakis is so stupid on top of being pure evil.