re: Concorde and Columbia
Politics might help the Shuttles more than they did Concorde.
Apparently, there were fewer and fewer passengers (CEO's wouldn't dare fly the Concorde if their company was having problems) and a big and costly revision was nearing.
Besides, the Shuttles are the only ones capable of completing the station, while many other planes (albeit slower) keep crossing the ocean.
The first time Concorde flew was during the Apollo 9 flight!
it was a beautiful plane.
Raoul