I still think the Space Shuttle was the awesomest thing (in the literal sense) ever. It was also iconic, and that's something that boring old big tall rockets simply don't provide.
LOOK AT THIS SPACE SHUTTLE
I really doubt they will be able to duplicate the size of that payload bay with the things they are proposing using. I've no idea how they intend to deliver large payloads to space with the designs that are currently being tested.

Of course, even more impressive than the Shuttle is the VAB at Kennedy. And the ultimate impressiveness is seeing the space shuttle IN the VAB, and people working on it.

Even if we do manage to replace the shuttle, its launch won't nearly be as impressive or unique. It'll either be Just Another Rocket -- of which probably dozens are launched each year (in the US) already -- or it'll just be a big wide plane taking off from a runway, like any other 747 at any other airport.

Seeing the shuttle launch was special in and of itself. Unfortunately I never got the chance to see one launch, but I did manage to see one on the launch pad.

plasma rockets, charles, plasma rockets. 50 years.

@1 -- you do realize that we (and everyone else) had been sending "large" objects into space without a space shuttle for some time, right? The shuttle could be fairly inefficient for lots of things that a simple, smaller launch system could also accomplish.

The huge "tow truck in space" aspect of the shuttle will be greatly missed, but I would suggest considering it the end-all be-all of orbital space travel is too limiting.