[ohmage]

NASA does have a protective re-entry method.

May of 2000, Atlantis suffered similar damage to tiles and were instructed ( or programmed? I'm not familiar with their procedure ) to adjust their re-entry angle because of NASA concerns.

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/3/021116-3583-010.html

[HighWheeler]

Thanks for the link, interesting info. I remember Discovery coming back on 51D in 1985 with the left wing burned through to the frame at the glove. They were lucky not to have lost that one.