Many people (in fact a majority) support the Space Program but for the most part they don't know why. Ignorance amongst the general public about the Space Program can be surprising. When Mars Pathfinder landed on Mars, John Q. Public's typical first question was "Is it manned?". That question indicated a remarkable lack of knowledge. I've concluded that overcoming this basic ignorance maybe impossible. This is due to the poor level of science education that most people have along with the general negligence and corrupting influence of the infotainment media (incompetent journalism, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.). The Space Program will not get out of the doldrums until it is either decoupled from popular support or can be financed entirely through private enterprise. Supporting the Space Program through private enterprise is not a short term solution due to the chicken-and-egg problem of getting launch costs to LEO below $1000/kg. Despite infinite potential riches, there is almost no profit to be found in space based upon current technology. Therefore getting government financed support for the Space Program decoupled from the whims of public entertainment (an invisible, well financed science and technology development program) is probably the best short term solution.

Gary