[Jedi Marksman]

At those speeds and add in the variables of space which is not a controlled environment, there are so many chances for things to go wrong. If a hole the size of a baseball can cause a jet to depressurize and explode, then who is to say what could have caused it. The Columbia was the "old workhorse" of the fleet. We've lost astronauts and a pliece of history. there are 3 left now:

Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.