Overwhelming Majoirty of Americans Back NASA; Human Space Program; Split on Cuts

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans of 72% say it’s at least somewhat important for the United States to have a manned space program, including 35% who say it’s Very Important. Only 21% say it’s not very or not at all important for the country to send humans into space.

Eighty percent (80%) have a favorable opinion of NASA, while just 14% have an unfavorable impression of the country’s space program. These findings include 32% who have a Very Favorable opinion and only four percent (4%) who have a Very Unfavorable view. In January, just 64% had a favorable opinion of NASA, and 20% did not.

A majority of 52% of adults say the space shuttle program has been worth the expense to taxpayers. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree and feel the program has not been worth the expense. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure.

When it comes to cutting back on space exploration, Americans are evenly divided. Forty-one percent (41%) believe the United States should cut back on space exploration, down nine points from January, but an equal number (41%) disagree. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure.

Forty percent (40%) of Americans feel the space program should be funded by the government, up slightly from April. Thirty-two percent (32%) say funding for the program should come from the private sector. Twenty-eight percent (28%) are undecided.