Let's face it, after the Bush Tax Cuts,
the US can't afford a space program now. And flying te Shuttle on the cheap with parts and equipment made by Bush-Cheney Cronies is a Risky Business.
The future of space for the next 100+ years will be in the unmanned "probes" which are better at collecting data without risk to human life. Manned space flight was really just a Cold War Publicity Stunt..... Its all but over now.
