The technology used in the space shuttle is way out of date. IN order to build a new space shuttle one would have to retrofit it with modern technology that is backwards compatible to the signals the old technology used in the shuttle to operate things.<p>For example use a Raspberry PI with an emulator for the old system that the space shuttle used and wire it into the old ports the shuttle uses for connections.<p>You&#x27;d have a lighter shuttle that doesn&#x27;t need as much fuel, but the cost of writing the emulator would be a lot of money. You&#x27;d have to reverse engineer the technology in a working shuttle.<p>NASA let this patent expire because it is old technology they aren&#x27;t using anymore.<p>In modern times there are a few companies building their own rockets that are more economical than building a shuttle.<p>Much as I&#x27;d like to see shuttle clones, I remember it had issues that caused at least two shuttles to explode and get destroyed. In making a shuttle clone you&#x27;d have to fix the o-ring and loose tiles thing.