Yet, for all the technological advancement, it STILL costs about 10 thousand dollars a pound to put something into low earth orbit on the Space Shuttle.
After 23 years of watching shuttles go up and (except for two occasions) come back safely, truly the only difference I see is that the shuttle cabin is more spacious and comfortable on a two-week mission.
And, well, maybe the food is better. Hope so: your lunch and the water to rehydrate it costs 10 grand.
That's the form over substance mentality. The objective is to get into space efficiently. A giant slingshot would be fine with me if it worked! The Shuttle is an amazing technological achievement but not the most efficient way of getting people into space (and back).