IMHO, the real reason why the government spends any money at all on aerospace technology is because it is "dual use", i.e. you can use it to make advanced weapon systems as well as explore space. The Bush administration and future administrations will simply not care if Space Exploration is popular or not because they know they need the advanced aerospace technology for national security. As the old saying goes: "You can attract more flies with sugar than vinegar". Young people are not going to devote their careers to aerospace if all they can do is design napalm canisters or cluster bombs. Space Exploration is what draws the suckers into aerospace careers (I find this hateful). A small percentage does Mars probes while the vast majority are working on fighter planes.

Gary