NASA - Return to Flight

Almost nine minutes after lifting off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Space Shuttle Discovery successfully reached orbit, marking the Shuttle fleet’s return to space. STS-114 is the first mission to fly since the loss of Shuttle Columbia and the STS-107 crew on Feb. 1, 2003.

Congratulations to the team of folks that made it happen!!

Do you feel that the cost of the shuttle is outweighed by its usefulness?
What social and political factors have (and perhaps still do) influenced the shuttle program?
If you were working on a replacement, what features would you change?
What should become of the shuttle fleet once it is retired?