Doesn't Look Good Does It?

To the right (the other right!) you can see the damaged tiles on the Space Shuttle. While the scale is hard to work out, you can see how deep the chip goes, practically to the Space Ship's inner hull. I am almost sure they will have to repair this. And while I know I have been harping on about the Space Shuttle, but I really do think it has become an expensive, and, moreover, dangerous anachronism. There may have been a time and place for manned space exploration -- and even here I have my doubts -- but if there is still a case for Space Exploration (which is itself rather an oxymoron) can't it be conducted without living, breathing humans.