All contracts have get-out clauses and even if they don't, Courts will not hold a party to an impossible or suicidal contract.

It is not possible to legislate against the laws of physics.

(Well, it is possible. It's even been done, but it doesn't change the fundamentals of the Universe. It just makes you look stupid.)

I said a fair while back, and I stick by it that I don't think the Shuttle will ever fly again, or at most perhaps 4 more missions before it is abandoned.

I think I even offered a bet on it.

NASA still have no solution to the problem that the leading edges of the wings is absolutely vital to safe re-entry, but are made of material with the strength of eggshells, that are completely unrepairable in the case of damage, even on Earth, and are individually shaped tiles all down the wing, so you can't even carry a spare or two.

Failure to consider likely damage and repair modes at design time has led to the whole vehicle depending on a dangerously unsafe area with no possible backup.

Every time that NASA announces it has fixed one of the "return to flight" requirements, it continues to leave this fatal flaw unfixed.

And as for Raul's "If the Shuttle were to stop now, it would be a defeat to NASA." - that's the thinking that took Napoleon to the gates of Moscow, and then to ruination...

NASA has a choice - bleed white over the Shuttle/ISS problem, and die; OR dump this crock of sh*te asap and start again on the long weary road to the stars.