Incredible photos of the Space Shuttle docked at ISS.

[Sgt Beavis]

hopefully space X and other private investors will somehow fill the void

I think SpaceX will do exactly that. Dragon will provide manned LEO access while Falcon heavy gives NASA a HUGE launch vehicle with double the Space Shuttle's lifting capacity.

Now if we can just get the damn Senate to stop shoving that big ass rocket down NASA's throat we might actually get something done.