[iowaboy]

Is there any way this could be terrorism? Could a ballistic missile have taken it out? Or could a terrorist infiltrated NASA and planted something.

Dear, God. Comfort their families.

[mewzilla]

I don't know what's worse: terrorists or NASA screwing up. I know this was the oldest shuttle in the fleet and things can happen even with the best of intentions, but if NASA screwed up again...

[Morrigan]

Probably too soon to say, but it doesn't sound like terrorism.....my heart breaks for those on the shuttle and their loved ones on the ground....

[TomB]

Is there any way this could be terrorism? Could a ballistic missile have taken it out? Or could a terrorist infiltrated NASA and planted something.

No. It would be impossible for anything (conventional) to hit an object 200,000 feet in the air travelling at 12,000 mph.

Could we please can the terrorism speculation?

[sweetliberty]

"Is there any way this could be terrorism?"

I don't know. I was thinking of something using satelite technology. We may never know. Of course, terrorists usually like to take credit for their work, but they most certainly know there would be little glory in this kind of an attack because it seems it would be nearly impossible to prove or disprove. I think more likely we have just come to take for granted the safety of the space shuttle and forget just how many risk factors there actually are.