Americans, for our collective stupid decisions we or our progeny will pay the piper. Like the USA debt, we or our progeny will pay. Control of space has significant national security implications. Earth orbit capability is very significant. If you can operate in earth orbit you can go to different orbits, moon, mars, astroids, etc. Don't downplay the earth orbit capability. The shuttle or an unmanned launch vehicle like shuttle C, or atlas, or Titan series can place the required exploration stages in orbit. The most logical master plan for the USA space program, is to become very capable in earth orbit and explore from there. The shuttle concept is the correct answer for accomplishing these objectives
If you read the four papers listed on this site, The Case to Save Shuttle, On the Early Retirement of shuttle, The Nonsensical Retirement of the Shuttle, and Evolve and Use Shuttle, you will conclude Shuttle is key. The shuttle has some significant design issues which must be addressed. Also shuttle management must be very rigorous in dealing with problems to ensure appropriate corrective action.
The USA has significant assets in orbit such as ISS, and Hubble. The fact is the shuttle retirement has placed them in jeopardy. What compounds the illogic is the total disregard for the amount of taxpayer money being wasted which tallies to approximately 1.2 Trillion if you add the SLS/Orion and COTS.
You may not think your progeny will pay, you may be long gone, but no need to pile more and more problems on them which could easily be avoided by a little common horse sense. Of course, if you don't care, not much I can do. In the end, the piper will be paid.
Bottom line: We must get visionary, common sense leaders in DC.
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