It’s quite clear now that Columbia was shedding parts over California, and perhaps earlier. It’s starting to look amazing that she made it all the way to Texas. Very interesting article. Check out the time-lapse photo over California, and the animated radar image over Texas.

[Update at 12:30 PM PST]

It just occurs to me that if the Columbia had been headed toward Edwards instead of Florida, the breakup would have occurred far out over the deep waters of the Pacific, and we’d probably have very little physical evidence.