Columbia's fate would be known before it's destruction on re-entry. This was a photo taken from the cabin. The point of no return was when the crew re-entered the oxygen environment of Earth.
The snapshot allegedly showing damage on Columbia's left wing.
(Please click on link above.)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Feb. 5--As search teams continue to find remains of Space Shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts, urban legends and hoaxes are already spreading. The most notable is being perpetuated by a video image supposedly taken from inside Columbia's cockpit. The Israeli newspaper Maariv published a snapshot (above) and explained that video was being shot as Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, was communicating by radio with the prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon. Allegedly, the cameraman meant to give Sharon a view of the Earth. The image, the paper wrote, shows cracks and other marks on the upper part of the shuttle's left wing.
