NASA fInally closes out manned space flight (Whimper).

With great fanfare, NASA finally closed out its manned space program.

After spending untold billions on something that could be simply characterized as a jobs program (in that regard, NASA learned its lessons well from the Defense Department), there is very little to show for it, except some neat engineering to help get men to space and support them for a while while there.  But to what end?

Most scientists enthusiastically support the unmanned space effort, since there are so many useful things to learn.  The familiar Hubble Telescope and Mars Rovers are only two projects on a long list of great achievements.

The idea of going to Mars may be exciting to the general public, in the same way that going to the Moon did decades ago.  But those in the know realize that it would make the expenditures and danger of any previous manned space project look like child's play.

Why can't Congress realize that spending money on manned space programs is wasteful, even if it brings money to their district.  The money could be put to much better use in scientifically-oriented space programs.