Lots of people predicted the shuttle winding down before it ever started. The main purpose of repeatedly launching astronauts into low earth orbit was to make

Lots of people predicted the shuttle winding down before it ever started. The main purpose of repeatedly launching astronauts into low earth orbit was to make work for NASA. The main takeaway was that it is dangerous and outrageously expensive. It's no secret that the most expensive and ridiculous way to achieve anything in space is to send people. And there is still no good justification for doing it.