leave shuttle in orbit, send second shuttle to fix first then reenter both
THEY ONLY HAD ENOUGH OXYGEN UNTIL WEDNESDAY. IT TAKES AT LEAST A WEEK TO GET A SHUTTLE READY, AND THAT IS IF THEY SCRAP ALL SAFETY.
send astronauts to space station for pickup by second shuttle
THEY COULDN'T GET TO THE SPACE STATION, NOT ENOUGH FUEL. IF THEY HAD GOTTEN THERE, THEY HAD NO WAY TO DOCK. THEY HAD NO TETHERS FOR A SPACE WALK.
effect ad-hoc repairs via a spacewalk (they carry some tiles one assumes)
THEY DO NOT CARRY TILES. EACH TILE HAS TO BE INDIVIDUALLY FITTED. THEY HAD NO MEANS TO DO A SPACE WALK, AND THERE WAS NO TETHER OR HANDLES OUTSIDE.
I am sorry to shout, but every single one of your suggestions has been discussed in this thread, and you are obviously not paying attention. I am certain that we all wish there had been a way to effect a rescue, but wishing doesn't make it so.
Don't you know these people will NEVER believe that!!