>>>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37145333/ns/technology_and_science-space/
>>>
>>>Me thinks the US should keep using the space shuttles. The US is going to depend on Russia to be the sole transport to the
>>>space station for the foreseeabel future. Hmmm......
>>
>>I saw this on CNN this morning and according to the NASA guy being interviewed, this is not the last mission, only the last mission for the Atlantis shuttle. In fact, there are two missions scheduled for the fall. (or so he stated and the cnn interviewer did not ask what shuttle or vehicle would be used). Although NASA shows it as indeed being the Soyuz and not ours:
>>http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition26/index.html
>
>There are two more scheduled shuttle missions:
>Sept 16th --> Space Shuttle Discovery
>Mid November --> Space Shuttle Endeavour
>
>...now my guess is they will actually launch one more after the Endeavour mission because they're going to have another shuttle full of fuel and boosters ready to go in the event it's needed for rescue mission.
>
>As far as no more shuttles - well they are getting quite old. I think its really stupid not to have any USA maned missions though. If they scrap the shuttles then we need something else. A newer version of the shuttle and a manned mission to Mars!

I don't see why the international community cannot build a base on the Moon. The shuttles could probably be retrofitted to make it to the moon and back for alot cheaper than creating some new moon fleet.