Leftover shuttle hardware after 2010

[aldelphi]

  After the ISS is able to support 6 people for long periods of time is there any need for a backup or rescue shuttle?  If the shuttle is damaged during launch it could dock with the ISS and six of the crew members could leave immediately on the two Soyuz spacecraft.  Thus there would only be 7 members at the ISS and they could stay for a long time if needed.

  This question comes up because there is uncertainty about flying AMS (STS-134).  Is there going to be rescue shuttle hardware for this flight?  Would STS-134 use the backup hardware that would be used for a rescue of the last CLF flight?  How much backup hardware is likely to be left over after the shuttle is done flying (like external tanks and other parts not easily obtained from another shuttle)?

[cb6785]

If the shuttle is damaged during launch it could dock with the ISS and six of the crew members could leave immediately on the two Soyuz spacecraft.  Thus there would only be 7 members at the ISS and they could stay for a long time if needed.

I don't think they would consider leaving ISS for a long time without ANY rescue vehicle (although this is a general problem with the safe haven concept: having more people then seats in case of an evac-scenario).

Plus your idea of immediat use of the two Soyuz would mean to have only the shuttle crew up while the complete ISS crew would land there because the Soyuz seats are custom for each person.

[psloss]

This question comes up because there is uncertainty about flying AMS (STS-134).  Is there going to be rescue shuttle hardware for this flight?  Would STS-134 use the backup hardware that would be used for a rescue of the last CLF flight?  How much backup hardware is likely to be left over after the shuttle is done flying (like external tanks and other parts not easily obtained from another shuttle)?

For a LON tank to support STS-134, there is an option to repair a tank that was damaged during Hurricane Katrina, ET-122; discussed in another thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=13555.msg295996#msg295996