could we?

I know this is random but... Does anyone recognize this?

It is the Eagle vehicle from the late 70's BBC series Space 1999. Don't you think this would have been a more practical construction project or maybe as a partial replacement to the shuttle? I mean It couldn't take earth reentry, but It could go to the moon etc... We could build this like we built the ISS... read: some assembly required.
The real benefit of this vehicle is its versatility. Notice the center section between the landing struts, it is (shown in the tv series) removable or detachable. Launch this compartment on a conventional rocket loaded with supplies and go get it once it achieved a stable orbit.

This is one part of my question "Where are we going?" NASA is stagnate... no overall goal or consumed or hamstrung by short term political goals... Milestones seem random with no direction. The science seems sophomoric in nature. I have heard a bunch of ideas for moon missions, and all of them would be served well by this machine.