Without a doubt. The US needs a shuttle replacement. Something more than a "flying brick" and with mcuh updated electronics and computer systems.
As an aside I checked in at the radio stations whee I work. NO ONE THERE HAD A CLUE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED! They were busy watching the weather channel! No call from teh PD, or station manager or anyoe except me! AND THAT WAS a half hour after contact with the chuttle was lost.
I only checked in because I live only a couple opf miles from teh station and might have to report.
As it is nwo I can gather info at home and pass it along.
prisoner6
But no shuttles will launch again until this mishap is understood. If history is any guide, it will be years before we launch again, if ever.
This was one of the reasons I left KSC 3 years ago. They couldn't pay me enough to have to go through this again.