Columbia Shot Down By Terrorists In 2003

When the space shuttle Columbia burned up on reentry in 2003, militant Islamists celebrated because there was an Israeli astronaut on board. There were some some false reports that Columbia had been shot down by a shoulder-launched missile. However, Columbia was too high at the time to be shot down by that type of missile (it burned up because of damage caused during launch by falling debris from the fuel tank that went unnoticed by NASA). So, what if some terrorist organization (say Hamas) smuggle one shoulder-launched missile into the U.S. Columbia doesn't suffer from falling debris as in OTL, and instead is shot down by a shoulder-launched missile at a lower altitude. What happens?
 
As soon as Hamas involvement is demonstrated then either the USMC are sent into Gaza or the Israelis are given carte Blanche to deal with Hamas as they choose. Hamas are many things but they are not that crazy, destroying an unarmed spacecraft that was returning from a scientific mission would have been sheer lunacy. Even the Iranians would probably condemn them and abandon them to their fate.

For Hamas to even think about doing this something really bad needs to have happened in Gaza in the preceding time. IIRC Hamas has never to date attacked an American target because they want to portray themselves as fighting against Israel. So unless they have been severely provoked then such an action is highly unlikely.
 
Well, shuttle launches will probably be grounded indefinitely. You can check for and prevent falling debris from fuel tanks, but you can't safely clear the entire continental US from the possibility of a single SAM launch.

The only other alternative would be evasive maneuvers and I don't think that'll work during shuttle reentry, tbh.
 

Typo

Banned
How do you shoot down something moving that fast at that attitude with a shoulder launched weapon?
 
Pretty much the only way I see is on launch, if they somehow hit it just as it is clearing the tower.

Maybe <big maybe> on final approach to runway.
 
How do you shoot down something moving that fast at that attitude with a shoulder launched weapon?

Lol, the shockwave of the sonic booms created by reentry might even throw the missile of course even if it was able to reach that altitude.
 
Lol, the shockwave of the sonic booms created by reentry might even throw the missile of course even if it was able to reach that altitude.

I was thinking that the terrorists would go somewhere where the shuttle would be passing overhead at a slow enough speed to shoot down... anyone have any idea where this would be?
 
I was thinking that the terrorists would go somewhere where the shuttle would be passing overhead at a slow enough speed to shoot down... anyone have any idea where this would be?

It would be (generally) in Kennedy space center. If they can take it down there. Damn...
 

Pangur

Donor
Columbia

It would be (generally) in Kennedy space center. If they can take it down there. Damn...

For sure thats the about the only spot where they could have done it however I cant for the life of me see how some one could get that close to do this and survive long enough to carry out the attack.

On who might have tried it - forget Hamas for the reasons spelt out earlier and try Bin Ladens mob; They will do anything to cause a major reaction from the US. In the first years after 9/11 I was very afaid that these nutters would try a suicide bombing of Vatican Square at either Easter or Christmas
 
I think we're getting into Dale Brown territory again. Cue ex-Soviet superweapon falling into the wrong hands and downing the Columbia, giving the US yet another reason to send in the fancy high-tech aircraft.
 

Archibald

Banned
Only at landing - and the shuttle falls quite fast, like a brick.

The best way would be to sabotage the shuttle engines so it can't reach orbit and has to perform a TAL - transatlantic landing, perhaps in Morroco. Now a terrorist group could try to shoot it down at landing with SAM shoulder mounted missiles...
 
Only at landing - and the shuttle falls quite fast, like a brick.

The best way would be to sabotage the shuttle engines so it can't reach orbit and has to perform a TAL - transatlantic landing, perhaps in Morroco. Now a terrorist group could try to shoot it down at landing with SAM shoulder mounted missiles...

If you can sabotage the shuttle, just have it blow up. It's easier. I mean, what if they don't go to Morocco? Or the SAM fails (some of those modern toys are remarkably sensitive to sand and dust)?

Seriously, I don't think it is even possible to shoot down a shuttle unless you have some serious AA capability.
 
Before taking NASA, the USAF and Civil Air Patrol are all flying over KSC looking for people outside the prescribed areas. (The USCG and CG Auxiliary may be involved as well.) Of course, those planes are easier to shoot down and would result in a launch scrub if a Blackhawk, Jayhawk, Cessna or Airvan was shot down.
As for the SAMS on landing, there would be a big problem. Most MANPADS are IR-based SAMs with a small warhead. The shuttle is a huge glider. While parts of it may be hot, firing at the shuttle might not do the damage it would to, say a jetliner or fighter. In addition, most MANPADS are only effective below 20 thousand feet.
There is a techno-thriller novel of sorts by Kevin Anderson in which a Shuttle is blown up on the pad in an explosion. If someone were to use a MANPADS to try and do that, it could cause a LOT of damage. Of course, they'd have to evade security to do so...
 
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