I also wanted to see FAME fly, both from a scientific point of view and to a lesser extent, because I happen to know one of the mission scientists. As you point out, it's clear that FAME did not have the consituency that planetary missions (e.g., New Horizons) have, but IMO frankly, the astronomical community that supports billion-dollar initiatives like HST, NGST, SIRTF, TPF, etc., did not mount a serious campaign to save this relatively inexpensive, though no less important, effort in astrometry. Indeed, the news hit the FAME team during the most recent DPS meeting where they put out a cup for donations ;-(

Alex R. Blackwell
University of Hawaii