[Magnum44]

If damage could have been detected before reentry,..

Don't know if it was possible given fuel remaining, orbits, etc, but I was wondering why no one has asked if rendezvous with ISS would have been possible. Could they have hunkered down there until a rescue mission could be put into motion? I think just staying in orbit would have been a limited option since fuel cells and such were probably nearly depleted. IIRC, the shuttle can only go it alone for about 2 to 3 weeks, depending on fuel cell usage. Did they launch into the ISS inclination, or (probably) less since they were heavy with the Space Lab? If they weren't in the right inclination, an ISS hook-up would probably be out of the question. Anybody know?

[DoughtyOne]

They were much lower than the ISS from what I understand. Part of the timing for the next shuttle lauch would be loading things into it. In an emergency it seems to me they could work 24/7 and get a crew up there sooner.

Didn't we have a shuttle that stayed and extra week or two due to weather and other problems? Can't remember exactly what the deal was, but they stayed significantly longer than initially planned. I believe it was a week or so.

[WoofDog123]

"Don't know if it was possible given fuel remaining, orbits, etc, but I was wondering why no one has asked if rendezvous with ISS would have been possible"

ISS was WAY above them (115 miles) and in a completely different orbit. Colombia is not capable of reaching ISS altitude anyway from the start, given its weight (the other 3 are lighter and for whatever other reasons, can).

These guys were on their own in space. Their only option was to land.