The Space Shuttle has been such a workhorse over the past almost three decades that it would seem rational that perhaps a entirely new generation of Space Shuttles should be designed and built. Since we know a whole lot about how our current space shuttles work, perhaps updating the platform with the latest materials, flight control hardware and software, engines, etc., would permit an even more capable platform for low Earth orbit insertion and recovery of our human and other space assets.

Either way, I think it is a bad idea to rely on Russian Boosters for access to low Earth Orbit, especially in light of the tensions and fallout generated by the recent brief conflict with Georgia.

In a real sense, not having a very capable platform to access Low Earth Orbit with the capacity of the current Space Shuttle or greater is a national security issue for the U.S.