[mostlyundecided]

I did some quick research and found that there is a big Balloon launching facility in Palestine TX - the web sites below, could it have been terrible coincidence that shuttle happens to hit balloon from this facility? They aren't supposed to fly that high, it was a nice day, could it be a freak occurance?

palestine TX, ballon website: nsbf balloon launching facility

click link for map showing sample July2002 payload right near disaster area.payload position

here is a plot of a recent/current? balloon: link

[coloradan]

Doubtful, there were already loss-of-telemetry troubles in the shuttle's left wing when it was over San Francisco.

[xm177e2]

That's incredibly doubtful.

Remember, if pieces are landing there, the shuttle blew up a long distance away.

[al_c]

They aren't supposed to fly that high, it was a nice day, could it be a freak occurance?

It was also a very windy day. I doubt they launched any baloons in windy conditions.