The best replacement for space shuttle is rocket.

The best alternatives to space shuttle are rated as following:
★★★★★  rocket
★★★★  saturn v
★★★★  buran
★★★  soyuz
★  orion
★  saturn 5
★  birdie
★  space station
★  saturn v rocket
  voyager spacecraft
  airplane
  spacecraft
  falcon 9
  spaceship

Your alternative for space shuttle is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about space shuttle, one probably shouldn't forget about 747.

Other search terms related to space shuttle and their ratings are:
★★★★★ 747
★★★ space station
★ 747 model
nasa
You have in mind a companion for space shuttle and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of space shuttle in all years. Click on graph for more.
space shuttle
rocket
saturn v