Few questions from a total non-specialist...
- Just wondering if there is any kind of flexibility in the re-entry trajectory: I understand that there is a given amount of kinetic energy to dissipate (and this was the heaviest landing in the Shuttle history); I also understand that you can not dissipate it too quickly. But assuming you accept the fact that you will miss your initial landing objective is there a possibility to choose a less stressful approach ?
- Is there any real-time computer follow-up of the re-entry phase ? I understand that the telemetry analysis is clearly showing that "something" was not normal a few minutes before the actual break-up. I don't believe it would be possible for an human operator to actually pick-up the trend in real-time but it I believe that a real-time computer model & tracking system (based on the considerable database the NASA should have after 100+ missions) could have raised an alert 3 to 5 minutes before the actual break-up.
- Finally, how do you achieve attitude control at those altitudes / speeds ? Is it aerodynamical (aileron / elevator) or thrust ?
This is obviously pure speculation but it seems to me that they might have had a small window of opportunity not to actually abort the re-entry but to follow a different trajectory that would significantly reduce constraints to the airframe. They would have obviously missed their intended landing point by quite a big margin, they would have probably needed to hand fly a very heavy glider but the whole point is that there *might* be a plan B after all...