Heat shield idea.
I believe the old Apollo capsules had a foil like heat shield .
Could something like a blanket type heat shield be developed for the shuttle that would cover the nose and front part of the wings.
It would be attached in orbit if damage was discovered perhaps stored in a module on the space station.
Perhaps it could be glued or fastened with hooks and straps.
On another subject couldn't part of the space station be evacuated in such an emergency to allow time for a shuttle rescue mission by using the stations life boats?
This would leave supplies for the rest of the remaining astronauts.