On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 07:58:59 +0000, "Chuck Stewart"
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 12:48:36 +0000, Nick Maclaren wrote:

The same argument applies with slightly different numbers. Get the
crew down first, and run another mission with a foam repair kit.
If all goes well, you have saved both shuttles.

Er... no.

If you leave an orbiter unattended for the length of time required
to send up a _second_ rescue mission, it's dead.

Unrecoverable.

An orbiter needs power to protect its mechanisms and electronics
from orbital conditions.

You can't just "park it" and walk away with the keys...

True... but from page 174 of the report:

"...Mission Control would then configure Columbia for a de-orbit burn
that would ditch the Orbiter in the Pacific Ocean, or would have the
Columbia crew take it to a higher orbit for a possible subsequent
repair mission if more thorough repairs could be developed.
This rescue was considered challenging but feasible... For a detailed
discussion of the rescue and repair options see Appendix D.13."

[Appendix D had not yet been published when I last checked, yesterday
evening).

So, the "park and repair later" option was certainly not ruled out by
the investigation team.

--
Dave