Space Shuttle hasn't flown in 14 years, the decision to retire it was made 21 years ago, they stopped making space shuttles 33 years ago, the system was designe

Space Shuttle hasn't flown in 14 years, the decision to retire it was made 21 years ago, they stopped making space shuttles 33 years ago, the system was designed over 50 years ago when the current NASA administrator was a child. What are these "recent times" you are referring to?