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Americans Back Missions to Moon, Mars
- Many adults in the United States are in favour of the goals set by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), according to a poll by Gallup for The Space Foundation for The Coalition for Space Exploration. 66 per cent of respondents support NASA's new plan if its budget does not exceed one per cent of the federal budget.
In January 2004, U.S. president George W. Bush announced a plan to build a space station on the moon by 2015, which would be used as a starting point for missions to remote destinations such as Mars. Early financing for the program would total $12 billion U.S., but the final cost will likely be much higher. NASA is also expected to build a replacement for the space shuttle, and complete the assembly of the International Space Station.
In March 2005, Bush nominated Michael Griffin as the new head of NASA. Griffin—a former chief engineer at NASA—has also worked on missile defence systems.
In August 2005, Griffin explained NASA's goals for the next decade, saying, "Over the next five years, we will be using the shuttle to continue building the International Space Station. Over the next 10 years, we will build and test our new generation of space ships and planning our next landing on the moon. In the years beyond that we will be using what we learn on our lunar mission to prepare for the trip to Mars. And the knowledge gained on that journey will help us get ready to explore even farther."
Polling Data
In January 2004, a new plan or goal for space exploration was announced. The plan includes a stepping-stone approach to return the space shuttle to flight, complete assembly of the space station, build a replacement for the shuttle, go back to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond. If NASA's budget did not exceed one percent of the federal budget, to what extent would you support or oppose this new plan for space exploration? Would you strongly support it, support it, oppose it or strongly oppose it?
Aug. 2006 | Mar. 2006 | |
Strongly support it | 19% | 14% |
Support it | 47% | 50% |
Neutral | 4% | 5% |
Oppose it | 18% | 19% |
Strongly oppose it | 10% | 10% |
Don't know | 2% | 2% |
Source: Gallup / The Space Foundation for The Coalition for Space Exploration
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted from Aug. 2 to Aug. 19, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
