However, we are now in the late '00s, and we should be able to come up with something that is much more advanced than this obsolete Space Shuttle.
We have a whole new system that is currently being built to replace the shuttle. Big, dumb and safe is all you need to get into space, then you spend the money on the cutting edge stuff once you are up.
They just awarded a multi-billion contract to Lockheed to do just that.
This is the 27th flight of Atlantis, it doesn't really matter how old the technology is if it acn safely get a payload up to orbit at reasonable expense.
Now however it does require a new vehcile to lower costs, and improve some performance.
They will likely use an older concept for the newer craft.
BTW: A good friend of ours, Joe Tanner, is the man who will lead the EVA's and assembly of the ISS components. A program like this helps keep the US well ahead of the rest of the world by developing the capabilities of the engineering companies, and developing world class leaders of programs and engineering. When US firms bid international contracts they are immediately given an advantage by showing they have NASA experience. They can be trusted< /sales pitch>