Wow KL, kinda raggin on the NASA folks! I understand why we went to the moon in the first place, remember, it was called a space race for a reason. We couldn't let the ruskies get there first, that whole US pride thing.
Now, sending someone to Mars would be above and beyond what we currently are capable of at this time. The distance there would require more food and water than we can currently carry, crappy shuttle or no.
By utilizing the space station, we have a better shot, but again, the distance is what kills us. We just don't have the technology current that will work. But we are working on it. We are also working on longer missions, but right now its mostly phsycological testing that is going on, and whether certain organic techniques will work on a long voyage.
I think NASA has done a bang up job considering they are limited by funding as well, and whenever something goes wrong (or in this case, right), they get seriously pounded by the press, congress, even the prez tends to knock them down.
The fact that they could build something so inexpensive, and have it surprass thier wildest projections is a sign that they are starting to go in the right direction.
And as for the shuttle, its a truck, not a cady. It was designed to ferry materials and manpower to and from a space station. It was not meant to be what the government has made it. NASA strictly wanted it to launch stuff and do some repair and retreivals. Minor studies were also expected, but not the major work that its had to do. But since they cant get enough funding to design the next level craft, they overuse the shuttle.
And I am done.
