根據 Times 報道：三種意外的可能起因 （華語為小弟略譯）：
1. Most likely to be an aerodynamic structural breakup of the shuttle caused by it rolling at the wrong angle. Remember, after reentry, the shuttle is descending without power, which means astronauts at the controls can't compensate for a loss of attitude by using the engines, they can only do so using the flaps. And that's extremely hard. Astronauts describe piloting the shuttle on reentry as like trying to fly a brick with wings.
因太空梭回降時，它是沒開引擎的，只是以機身上的襟翼控制，所以有如要擺動一有翅膀的磚頭，很難控制，可能會因下降的錯誤翻滾角度而使太空梭發生氣體動力 (Aerodynamics) 機身爆炸。
2. The loss of tiles leading to a burn-through.
梭機身之防熱磚瓦保護層破了，被燒身。
3. The last option is some kind of engine failure leading to fuel ignition.
梭上剩餘的燃油引爆。
專家認為2 及 3 的可能性不高。
專家認為結論：若不知其因，太空梭可能永不升空了。
— 引自 http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,418462,00.html?cnn=yes
'Aerodynamics May Explain Space Shuttle Breakup'
TIME science correspondent Jeffrey Kluger examines the possible causes and consequences of the Columbia disaster
Saturday, Feb. 01, 2003
但有報告說該太空梭起飛時已有好些機身之防熱磚瓦保護層掉了，故在大氣增太熱而燒身的機會也有。
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/01/shuttle.investigation/index.html
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