Well, I think that since it´s official that the shuttle program dies the interest in the general public grew massively.
Space in general is one of the classical interests to all kinda people, it was like that before, and it will last forever - at least as long as mankind will exist.
So that through www the professional sources become available for each and everyone in an easy way, the more and more people can understand in much more detail the things around spaceflight and the shuttle systems, missions and techniques.
So this piece of great sim and it´s forthcoming 2010 version are a truly remarkable and worthy memorial for the great ladies named Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour.
Cheers!
Jorg