How To Steal The Space Shuttle: A Step-By-Step Guide

This is magnificently silly, although no worse than a lot of movie or television plots. Some of the commenters apparently did not get the joke. However, one of them noted the fundamental problem with the plot that I immediately saw:

But wouldn’t it be easier to just make the Buran work? I mean they’re about in the same state of functionality now.

Before letting go of the shuttles, NASA removed anything that might be useful for future space efforts, notably the main engines. What was left was little more than empty shells. As an American taxpayer, and garage sale scavenger, I completely approve.