Poll Shows Support For Manned Spaceflight, But Need For Redefinition

In the wake of the Columbia tragedy, Americans remain firmly behind NASA and manned space flight. But a new poll commissioned by the Houston Chronicle shows people don't want to return to space without a new set of goals -- reasons for being there.

More than two-thirds of the 800 people questioned by Zogby International said NASA is doing an excellent or good job of directing the nation's space program. An overwhelming majority, 83 percent, said they thought it was important to the country's international prestige to have humans flying in space.

Keep 'Em Flying

That could be cause for a big sigh of relief at both the Kennedy and Johnson space centers. "Support for a manned space program has always been strong, and no president has been willing to cancel it," said Roger Launius, a historian with the National Air and Space Museum and former senior NASA historian. "It is a consensus that lasts in this nation. This poll confirms that, and no elected officials are going to challenge that."

The poll shows, while Americans are bullish on continued shuttle flights, they're a little less certain whether the remaining space planes have aged to the point where they're just too dangerous. Simply put, the poll shows, most Americans want the whole nature of the shuttle program rethought and redefined.

Fifty-four percent of those polled said the CAIB shouldn't focus only on the cause of the Columbia disaster. Instead, the majority asked believes NASA should take a broader look at the direction the space program is going. Forty-three percent said the board should focus narrowly on the cause of the accident, fix the problems and get back to flying as quickly as possible.

Where From Here?

Forty percent of those asked said building a new orbiter to replace the aging space shuttles should be NASA's top priority. Thirty percent said the space agency's top task should be finishing the international space station. Another 10 percent said NASA has to establish a base on the moon. Finally, 9 percent said going to Mars should be the priority.

FMI: www.caib.us, www.nasa.gov