I still don't know why we didn't just extend the shuttle thru 2015, one flight per year per Shuttle. The whole shuttle stack is safer now than it's ever been, SRB's=redesigned, ET=redesigned, Shuttle=inspected, upgraded, and maintained better than any other piece of technology on the planet. Only downside is the capes infrastructure, it needs some heavy cash poured in to upgrade it and keep pace with the corrosion that comes from being on the coast, not to mention 50+ years of rocket propellants, solvents, etc used everywhere. Just my 2C.