Re: ...temporary move to the ISS?
Maybe, a space-suited EVA and some vacuum-rated gaffer tape plus some thermal tile patches would have done the tricks?
Perhaps we will ever know?
But perhaps...
Imagine if they had run an EVA and found irreparable damage?
What then?
Re-Enter or bust???
Or maybe not.
---
THe one thing that is baffling and so darn frustrating is that this was THE last science mission for a shuttle. They will be using the orbiters to finish assembling the ISS. If there was any problem with the tiles, wing... they could have seen it from the ISS.
Strength and peace to all.