Last time i checked it was pushing 500M/mission. I imagine now with everyone walking on pins and needles to try to get a safe launch, that cost is probably going up another 50% per mission. Honestly, can't we do any better than this? The technology is now almost 25 years old, yet here we are forcing the square peg into the round hole. We've now spent almost 6 years grounded over the STS lifetime. The space shuttle has never met it's stated design goals (some kind of reasonable turn around and cost/mission). Yet, here we are pumping another 3 years of effort and money to force it up into the air again.

I'm trying to understand that while computer technology has increased probably 2000 fold for the better in the last 25 years, we've barely improved our space access technology. With all the improvements in materials science, simulation capability, and computer technology (fly by wire control), we can't do better than this?

The space shuttle is such a wonderful cash cow to so many who will leech off the dollars to keep patching old technology. Sorry, but this is the way I see it. While I love space exploration, I am saddened by the incredible poor use of our precious space exploration dollars.

Now, I see a bunch of people excited about a proposed next generation space vehicle from shuttle derived technology. I don't understand the excitement. The best we can do is some iterative improvement of what is really obsolete and non-cost effective technology? I despair of ever seeing something truly innovative and practical to handle human space transport. It is just too easy to keep the giant bureacracies fed by avoidance of true innovation. The more complicated the vehicle is and hard to do, the more money for every aspect of its production, flight, and maintenance.

Well, here's to white elephants, the ISS and the STS.

-------------------
Finally, here's a question to aeronautical engineers out there. Would it really be that difficult to have a space vehicle that morphs fairly radically (different configurations for launch, entry, and landing)? Or what about the Roton concept (helicoptering capsule)? Isn't there some innovation better than this fixed wing concept? Aren't we ready for something better with the billions that will be spent?