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Majority of Americans Believe It Is Essential That the US Remain a Global Leader in Space (pewinternet.org)

Posted by msmash on from the what-we-want dept.

Pew Research: Sixty years after the founding of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), most Americans believe the United States should be at the forefront of global leadership in space exploration. Majorities say the International Space Station has been a good investment for the country and that, on balance, NASA is still vital to the future of U.S. space exploration even as private space companies emerge as increasingly important players. Roughly seven-in-ten Americans (72%) say it is essential for the U.S. to continue to be a world leader in space exploration, and eight-in-ten (80%) say the space station has been a good investment for the country, according to a new Pew Research Center survey conducted March 27-April 9, 2018. These survey results come at a time when NASA finds itself in a much different world from the one that existed when the Apollo astronauts first set foot on the moon nearly half a century ago. The Cold War space race has receded into history, but other countries (including China, Japan and India) have emerged as significant international players in space exploration. Another finding in the report: Most Americans would like NASA to focus on Earth, instead of Mars.

5 of 286 comments (clear)

  1. Moon? by Bodhammer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Moon colonization shout be the goal along with asteroid mining. That is the best way to build a sustaining space travel infrastructure. Mars can wait.

    --
    "I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
  2. Ignore what the public thinks by Leuf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    72% think it is essential that the US be at the forefront of space EXPLORATION, but 18% think we should do any exploring. People as a whole are completely, utterly useless at directing policy. If you ever want to do anything important or interesting ignore what people think about it.

  3. Not quite by igotmybfg · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "Majority of Americans Believe It Is Essential That the US Remain a Global Leader in Space As Long As It Doesn't Cost Them Anything"

    fixed it for you

  4. Re:Problems by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We could do both if we weren't so all-fired eager to get involved in every brushfire war worldwide.

  5. Re:I know why by gweihir · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Trump as president is just a symptom. Removing him will do nothing about the actual problem.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.