Question: Why couldn't the crew put on their spacesuits, then go out and assess the damage?
dizzyd
31st Jan 2021
Apollo 13 (1995)
Answer: Even if they could go out and assess the damage, they didn't have the tools, materials, or knowledge to actually be able to fix it.
Answer: That would involve depressurizing the command module and LEM. Given that a substantial percentage of their on-board O2 supply just got vented into space, wasting more at that point to only confirm what they already knew wasn't worth the trouble.
kayelbe