Normally, it takes four months to prepare a shuttle for launch. But in a crisis, shuttle managers say they might be able to put together a launch in less than a week if all testing were thrown out the window and a shuttle were on the pad. Columbia had enough fuel and supplies to remain in orbit until Wednesday, and the astronauts could have scrimped to stay up a few days beyond that. If they had started a rescue plan the minute after reaching orbit, then there would have been at least 21 days to reach them. A Progress vehicle with supplies could have been sent to extend their time in orbit until another shuttle was dispatched.