[Bobby777]

When Columbia first went up they had it looked-over by spy satellites and ground telescopes and claimed it was safe for re-entry ... If they weren't lying in 1981, how could that same (or hopefully better) technology not be used today? (if EVA completely impossible)

further, could not they have met up with the space station and an astronaut from the space station take some sort of look? ... they have tethers and suits ... anything would be better than just leaving it up to chance (as we have seen) ...

[John Jamieson]

I don't remember that (I helped launch it). But if true, what could anyone have done about it. We only had one finished orbiter.