Sean Lynch wrote:
As has already been mentioned, there was nothing like enough propellant available to reach ISS; in addition, Columbia was the only Orbiter that didn't have a docking adapter for the ISS -- the extra dry weight of that oldest Orbiter, coupled with the weight of the docking adapter, might well have made it impossible for Columbia to perform the cargo missions that would have required such an adapter; thus there was no advantage to carrying its mass and directly reducing payload available for other kinds of missions.I'm guessing they did not have enough propellant to dock with ISS, but if they could have known the thing was gonna blow up, they certainly could have done something besides just flying a normal reentry and dying.
Even had NASA been certain there was critical damage to the TPS (like, say, several adjacent tiles missing from the leading edge of a wing, which seems a likely scenario at this point), essentially the only option would have been to stay in orbit a few days longer, then pick between dying as consumables run out (most likely oxygen first) or taking your chances in reentry. I think I know how astronauts would choose...
--
What you own is your own kingdom, what you do is your own glory.
What you love is your own power, and what you live is your own story.
-- Neil Peart, 1976
Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer NAR # 70141-SR Insured
Rocket Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/launches.htm
Telescope Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/astronomy.htm
Lathe Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/HomebuiltLathe.htm
Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.
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