Is it there a way for orbital reentry without burning?

[EarthlingX]

About

Space Shuttle thermal protection system

You will find some information about repairing here :

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/112301main_Presskit_sts-114.pdf

and

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/154537main_RCC_ ... 0-2006.pdf

 

[Cosmicvoid]

... can anyone tell my why the shuttles do not carry one or two peices of tile material plus a method for cutting them into the necessary shape? Along with a tube of adhesive or apoxy so that a damaged tile can be replaced prior tor rentry. I think this lack of what seems to be a simple safety precaution is what doomed Columbia.

I think what doomed Columbia is that no one thought the TPS even needed to be inspected prior to reentry, much less repaired. That only dawned on NASA after they discovered why Columbia burned up.