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The United States space shuttle, with all of its history, needs to be decommissioned and let newer technology be put into mainstream space flight. The space shuttle was not an idea that was widely accepted when it was first mentioned. The idea of the space shuttle was brought up in a committee that was researching the future of the National Aeronautics & Space Association (NASA). Although Vice President Spiro T. Agnew chaired the committee, President Nixon did not give his approval right a way. He passed several other plans for NASA but not the space shuttle. The space shuttle was being mentioned at a time when the Apollo missions had come to a close and the future of NASA was unsure. However, the Apollo missions were very successful, yet very expensive. The positives and the setbacks to the Apollo missions made it difficult to get the approval for the research and development of the space shuttle. The breakthrough that NASA was waiting for occurred on August 12, 1971. Casper W. Weinberger, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote to the President saying the space shuttle program had merit and was worth looking into. President Nixon with the support of the Deputy Director Weinberger approved the shutt