[One Sided Media]

My purpose here is to take the situation as we understood it at the time the telemetry failed and, using the prior conditions as a base, extend what may have happened that is not yet know. I don't think it is unfair to say that there had been a complete loss of control following the loss of the telemetry. It doesn't take an engineering degree to understand that.

I believe that the initial conditions at the launch did not put the wheels in motion to ultimately destroy the shuttle. Whatever fell off of the connector between the shuttle and the main fuel tank I do not believe could have caused the destruction of enough tiles to cause the failure of the tiles.

As of this moment we do not know what caused the increased heating or drag along the fuselage but I think it is safe to assume that the increased friction and resulting heat penetrated this less protected area ultimately causing the explosion of the craft.

Finally, I do not personally believe that this was sabotage, but if anyone told me that someone deliberately flew commercial aircraft loaded with passengers into the world trade center I'd have told them I don't believe that either.

[One Sided Media]

Please don't hold my comments against my spouse "one sided media," this is her spouse who was unable to get a password today to join this group in a conversation regarding Columbia.