[elbucko]

I would like to see a better space vehicle built.

So would I. The general design may be appropriate to present and future missions but the specific design and its hardware is getting old and obsolete. Our space program(s) are one expenditure of taxpayers funds that I wholeheartedly approve and I have no connection with the space program at all.

[dtel]

The Shuttle was designed in the late 60's, early 70's, it is a Flying Camel.
It was and is a horse designed by a commitee.
It was re-engineered to haul seven different people of diffenrent ethnic persuasions into space.
It was re-engineered, so as to be so simple to fly that they could even launch school teachers, professors, et al., into space.
PC' ism at its finest.
Design craft mission specific, scrap the teachers and let's explore space.
Otherwise can it.