[dgoodell]

NASA was originally formed as NACA to research aeronautics technology and help advance our uncompetitive nascent aerospace industry.

Building spacecraft and space transportation systems like the shuttle came later and is a very different type of task.

Unfortunately, the more flamboyant manned space flight and science missions have gradually come to dominate NASA, and much of the fundamental tech research that made it possible in the first place has been deprioritized and defunded.