It is interesting to note that the first two people I spoke with after the Columbia explosion both had the same response: they asked about a possible terrorism connection. It is especially interesting because neither individual is prone to conspiracy theories, but rather they reflected a common post-9/11 American viewpoint: if something goes terribly wrong, then we must seriously consider foul-play. Of course, there is no evidence suggesting terrorism here, but it struck me that I don’t recall this kind of sentiment following the Challenger disaster--even though it occurred during the Cold War.