Not that I'm too savvy about this, but what I recall the Columbia shuttle
burned on reentry, and at that stage the shuttle would be mainly a glider
with very little onboard fuel?

I believe Big John's SR-71 question was referring to the Challenger
explosion -- not the Columbia re-entry break-up.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"