[leadhead]

THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO

Could have tried to reprogram the re-entry sequences so the impacted area took less heat.

[VetoBill]

What are they going to do, come in upside down and backwards?

The best they could have done, I believe, to increase their chances would have been to dump as much weight as possible. Eject science experiments, suits, food, water, anything to reduce the overall shuttle weight... then pray as they returned.

There was no magical alternative path to keep them safe.

[OldFriend]

If I may enlighten you for the zillionth time. The shuttle was oriented to present the minimum surface to the heat.

THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO...............

[Cold Heat]

Could have tried to reprogram the re-entry sequences so the impacted area took less heat.

According to NASA, they do that anyway on every flight.