Thomas James asks a question in comments that I’ve been wondering about as well. If the manufacturing facilities for the external tanks in Michoud, Mississippi are destroyed, maybe Shuttle will be retired sooner than we think. It may also put paid to Mike Griffin’s ambitions about Shuttle derivatives. It wouldn’t be as devastating as a hit on the Cape, though. They could probably rebuild tank manufacturing facilities, but if the orbiters were wiped out, the program would truly be dead.

[Update late on Sunday night]

Thomas James points out correctly in comments that Michoud is in Lousiana. That’s what I had thought, but I made the mistake of checking it on line. That’s what I get for relying on NASA web sites for information.