First, you post this crack, The NASA of 1958-1964?
(only white male test pilots as astronauts and white male scientists)?

That sounds to me like you just called him a racist and sexist. Was that what you're trying to say?

As for the rest of it, let's get one thing perfectly clear - NASA is an agency of the US government paid for by American taxpayers. As a European, you're entitled to your opinion but this is a matter for our President, Congress, and taxpayers.

If you as a European are so hot for manned Mars missions and other big ticket projects, perhaps you need to look closer to home. Why don't you lobby your EU to radically increase ESA funding via tax increases on European citizens to pay for them? Why not put your own money where your dreams are instead of constantly expecting us to pay for them?

IMO, NASA has done a terrible job managing just about every big budget item over the past 30 years. The new guy is a bean counter but it seems to me that's exactly what NASA needs at the moment. There are a lot of people deeply upset over NASA's spending habits. Until the agency proves it can do a better job, the chances of them getting big bucks to send humans to Mars (or any other big budget item) are very slim. This could be a make or break opportunity for the agency. If NASA hopes for a future more relevant to average citizens than the Rural Electrification Commission (whose mission ended decades ago but somehow it still exists), they're going to have to get their house in order. Like the like from "The Right Stuff", "No bucks, no Buck Rogers."