Public Attitudes Toward Different Space Goals: Building Public Support for the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE)

Public support is critical if the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) is to be sustained through multiple presidential administrations. This study found that only two national space goals, planetary defense and space energy generation were consistently supported by a significant percentage of the American public. Support for both goals remained constant over the three-year period that saw the Columbia shuttle accident, human spaceflight missions by the Chinese, the development of the VSE, and the success of SpaceShipOne. It is argued that only by linking the VSE to the twin goals of planetary defense and space energy generation will it be possible to create the bipartisan support VSE needs to succeed.