"Nick Theodorakis" wrote in message
...
err... So the purpose of the shuttle is to fly to the ISS, and the
pupose of the ISS is to be a lifeboat for the shuttle?

Precisely. The ISS doesn't really serve any purpose other than being a
destination for the shuttle, while the shuttle has no purpose other than
traveling to the ISS. Take comfort in the fact that NASA is going to spend
$54 billion on the ISS to make sure that it doesn't die like HST will
[sarcasm].