Guys, the real problem here is not NASA, not engineers, and not technical issues. Where does NASA get their money? From Congress. How would you like to attempt to run a highly complex program with a board of directors composed of 535 people the majority of which have not the faintest clue what you're trying to accomplish. But what they do know is that the money in your budget should all be spent in THEIR state, and that it's more important that you hire a number of females/gays/lesbians/handicapped/iliiterates-on-the-job-improvement program than accomplish your primary mission. And of course that the rocket engines and guidance hardware is built in East Broken Jaw, (their home state) than in a location where the product might actually work.
So have some sympathy for NASA's top management who are tormented with all of the above on a daily basis. Hell, it's a tribute to their tenacity and salesmanship that the shuttle ever flew at all!
And while we're at it, NASA and USAF have technology pretty close to ready to go for a surface to orbit vehicle. But they're dealing with Congress ....... maybe in 20 years....
