Re:What is the purpose of this? (Score 2, Insightful)

I think articles like this give us all a little bit of closure. Loosing something is always more difficult if there are questions left unanswered. The mind tends to construct scenario after scenario, never knowing what's true and what's not. Sometimes, it is comforting to know that a given scenario didn't actually happen.

I, for one, find myself wondering what happened in the final seconds, both from a personal perspective (how long did they know, how long did they survive, etc.) and a scientific one (what, exactly, happens to a shuttle wing when there's a hole in it during re-entry, etc.).

Every time I get more information, I can put some of those thoughts away. Eventually, maybe we can all put enough of our thoughts away so that we can move on.