[snopercod]

Actually, the solution is rather simple.

Not meant as a flame, but you have no clue as to what is required prep a shuttle for one payload vs. another. It's not like removing a suitcase from the trunk of your car and tossing in another one. It would take literally months to do what you suggest.

But the big idea-killer is that NASA will not allow (with good reason) a liquid-fueled craft in the payload bay. They forbid the Centaur upper stages for just that reason.

It would be much better to have several CRV's launched into various orbits ahead of time, then launch the shuttles into the same orbit.

[XBob]

It would be much better to have several CRV's launched into various orbits ahead of time,

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good idea, see 179

[Bryan24]

Begging your pardon, but I do have a good idea of the time it takes to prep a shuttle and payload. We decided to launch shuttles with NO backup plan. Shoot, we planned on flying thee things dozens of times. Yet we can't have 2 ready to go at the same time?

NASA built a craft that an errant duck would render mortally wounded. The craft has 34 bajillion different parts. Yet, once you ight the SRBs, for all practical purposes their fate was sealed.

BTW, the CRC (crew rescue capsule) would be an unfueled module. What is it's purpose?

A crew of seven launches and serious mishap occurs during orbit. Teh shuttle sustains serious damage that requires 3-4 astronauts to go rescue them. You can't bring 11 back in the shuttle cabin.