the shuttles need to be retired entirely ....more changes on external tank
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10485178/
The external tank is being redesigned with the inevitable delays. When will people realize flying this space goose costs too damn much money. They keep patching and prodding and it is costing billions to launch a fricking single shuttle. There is a point where a company declares bankruptcy, because the business model just didn't work. By analogy, the space shuttle needs to be scrapped. It is not cost effective. Why doesn't someone in NASA (see administrator) have the balls to do what is necessary.