You are right, booster rockets are outdated.

It's really to bad that the US stopped space exploration in the 70. If we had continued going to the moon we probably would be on mars already.

The ony reason we have not developped new technologies is that the problems we have on earth outweight all consideration of space exploration. It's a bit like fueled cars. Now that we are being billed lots more tu fuel are cars we now see electrical cars. I've read the new electric cars can go 500 km for 25cents in energy cost. This technology would of been out a long time ago if it was not for the petrolium companies.

Space is the same thing. When we will really need something there you will see tons of technology finally come to life to service the needs.

Hell we have nothing good to take ove rthe space shuttle and that as beena ctive for what now 40 years. Hell...  NEED is the mother of all inventions. When there will be money to be made in space then it will happen.