[Brett66]

I think the Russian Progress resupply spacecraft could have been reconfigured to resupply the Columbia which would have given them enough time to get another shuttle up there for a rescue attempt. We probably would have to break a lot of safety rules to do something like that, but it wouldn't hurt to have some plans in place just in case.

[snooker]

docking collars anyone?

oops we left ours on the ground and filled the shuttle bay with experiment modules.

snooker

[Redleg Duke]

Columbia was not configured with a docking collar. Getting the resupply into the shuttle would have been a major problem. Not that Yankee Ingenuity couldn't have come up with something, mind you!

If NASA would have suspected a problem with re-entry, I am certain that this option would have been attempted.

To be as technical as possible..."Shit Happens!"