If NASA retired the spacecraft, how will they get into space?

Dear Leon A. NASA’s plans for the future include way too much, both robotics to the planets, and manned work in orbit. A fore seat rocket, made to give an untrained joyrider five minuets of freefall to watch his own vomit floating in a plastic baggy, is NOT going to cut it.

B. The Dragon’s Not designed to accept that sort of “modification C. It’s not NASA’s property LL&P ESP.

NASA didn't make it. SpaceX did. NASA just gave SpaceX a very loose set of requirements (ie deliver cargo and personnel to the ISS), and SpaceX went on their innovative way and designed the spacecraft to work with their existing hardware.

As to why SpaceX didn't go with a winged craft? Simpler (and quicker) development, cheaper to produce, safety (Dragon was able to use a very simple launch escape system which simply boosts the capsule clear before triggering the landing chutes) and it's hauling less dead weight up the gravity well (note that all of that aerodynamic structure is of NO use on the trip up). For a craft in development, based upon similar requirements, which is more like what you have in mind, see the SpaceDev Dream Chaser in my link below.

They're a few years behind SpaceX, despite plans to use an existing launch vehicle. It's a lot closer in concept to the X-37B or the the old X-20 Dynasoar in that it rides atop a rocket rather than hanging on the side of it. Who knows?

Maybe it'll be the first successful spaceplane. Edit: Oh. And contrary to Quadrillion's insistence, neither of these craft were developed for space tourism.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.