Space Opinion Polls
(This page is a work in progress.)
"Study suggests that NASA’s public support was less important than most have previously asserted, and that the overall activities of NASA have been advanced by a small base of supporters, challenged by a small group of opponents, and sustained by a larger number of people who accept a status quo in space exploration. Conclusion. A general public lack of support for expending many dollars on spaceflight has been a fundamental reality of NASA since its beginning."Source
"Should the government fund human trips to the Moon?"
(1961-1995)Net Approval: Shows the margin between Favor and Oppose (Favor% - Oppose%). Negative values mean more people opposed than favored moon funding. Notice how approval was consistently negative except for Oct 1965.
| Date | Favor % | Oppose % | Net Approval | Historical Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1961 | 42% | 46% | -4% | Kennedy announces moon goal |
| Feb 1965 | 39% | 53% | -14% | Project Gemini begins |
| Oct 1965 | 45% | 42% | +3% | Only period of net approval |
| Jul 1967 | 34% | 53% | -19% | Apollo 1 fire (Jan 1967) |
| Apr 1970 | 39% | 56% | -17% | Just after Apollo 11 success |
| Jul 1979 | 44% | 51% | -7% | Post-Apollo era |
| Jul 1994 | 47% | 47% | 0% | 25th anniversary of Apollo 11 |
| Jul 1995 | 47% | 52% | -5% | Space station era |