I don’t think scrapping space shuttle is a very big deal. They were getting very old and unreliable. I think the whole notion of manned space exploration is wasteful in terms of cost to scientific value ratio. The future will be in unmanned space explorations. Just look at ISS; a $100 billion motel 6 with constant problems of plumbing, toilet, ventilation etc., AFAIK, zero scientific output. The Mars lander programs are infinitely more exciting. The Hubble has produced more science in 20 odd years than what human space flight has produced in more than 40 years; at probably 1% cost.
