JazzMan wrote:

I see a lot of people arguing both sides of the technology
questions, such that they are, but near as I can tell there
aren't any "real, concrete, get it done" plans for using
any of the actual shuttle technology for future designs. It
seems to my uneducated mind that it would be fairly simple
to reuse the SSME's and SRBs for heavy lift designs which is
what I think we still need. That's why I'm asking, are there
any "real" plans to reuse the SSMEs and SRBs?

Word is that NASA will have something to say about
this soon, perhaps in early July. That is when
the Griffin-appointed "Exploration Systems
Architecture Study" team, headed by Dr. Douglas
Stanley will complete its top-down CEV program
assessment. We will probably hear about launch
vehicles, mission architectures (lunar surface
versus earth orbit rendezvous, etc), and the
modified CEV requirements. Then, assuming Congress
doesn't choke on these plans, NASA will start
putting out RFPs and the winner-take-all mother
of all aerospace competitions will be underway.

- Ed Kyle