[Lancey Howard]

Very interesting article.
It sounds to me like:
1. NASA failed to check out the damage to the wing.
2. Had the wing been inspected, a more reliable analysis of the risk of reentry could have been done.
3. If it was determined that the risk was too great to try to bring the shuttle in, there were options available, albeit none of them cozy.
A. They could have "limped" to the ISS and "floated over in their space suits".
B. The shuttle Atlantis could have been rushed into service and sent up for rescue.
C. An alternate reentry trajectory could have "relieved the heat on the ship".

Most importantly, NASA first needed to check out the wing.

[John Jamieson]

A not possible
B maybe
C not possible

D I would have jetasoned the SpaceHab and gone down with the ship.

[Willie Green]

Most importantly, NASA first needed to check out the wing.

Man, you've really latched onto the "single bullet theory", haven't you?
Did you have a similar concern when the Russian submarine Kursk sank?
Something along the lines that maybe something might have been
done if only the submarine had sent out divers to look at the damage?