Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

The Orbital Space Plane will be smaller and more efficient than the shuttle, and cost less. I hadnt thought much about the age and design of the shuttle recently, but after the Columbia disaster and reading several articles about the inadequacies of the shuttle program, I think its high time the US came up with a more efficient way to continue manned space travel. For more on the OSP see the linked shuttle plane.

I also think the debate about having space missions "manned" at all is a valid one, yet I dont think we should abandon manned missions until we hash out that debate. There are pros and cons but its a valid issue to discuss.

As for other shuttle issues such as a "bad safety record", I disagree that that is a valid issue. The shuttle has had two horrific disasters, and preventing ALL disasters is the goal, but it has also had many successful flights, hundreds. We must not forget that its NOT everyday travel, if we elect to go with manned flight it is uh, rocket science.
  Nasa plans shuttle successor: BBC