A set of electronic images of space shuttle Columbia attached to an e-mail is the latest Internet hoax concerning the orbiter.

The electronic images show the shuttle exploding in a ball of fire in space. The e-mail is claiming that the photos were taken by an Israeli satellite during re-entry.

Several of the photos are also posted on Web sites.

The images do not appear to match with what is known about how Columbia broke up over Texas during re-entry from orbit.

Neither NASA nor the Columbia Accident Investigation Board would comment on the images.

This is not the first Internet hoax concerning shuttle Columbia. Images that showed a supposed crack in the shuttle's wing were circulated in February.