John Schutkeker wrote in
4:

Getting the shuttle safely back into space doesn't seem too complex,
but satisfying the CAIB's requirements does. CAIB apparently charged
NASA with two tasks, to fix the problems that caused the crash - the
main tank's foam lining and the leading edge of the wing, and
designing some kind of rescue system for situations with launch damage
severe enough to make landing too dangerous.

Repair, not rescue. The CAIB issued no requirements for rescue systems.

The solution I imagine is to launch an escape module atop an
expendable booster, with enough capacity to evacuate the entire crew.

No such module exists. CEV could conceivably fulfill this function, but it
will not be ready until 2008 - and then, only for unmanned tests.

--
JRF

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