Heh, this is amusing.

Eventually I plan to write a paper on public support for the space program (I'm actually a political scientist, not a geochemist, thankfully for the world!). It will be a while before I do that as I've got several other projects to finish up first, not to mention the need to find a job! But when I come across relevant datasets I'm grabbing them, and I just noticed this amusing coincidence.

The New York Times runs a monthly poll. Some questions stay the same but they also toss in sections on issues of current interest.

Their February 2003 poll includes a battery of questions on the space program -- due to the Columbia disaster.

That same poll also includes a section on internet dating services (have you heard of them, used one, did it lead to a good or bad date, etc).

Since I've got individual-level data, I'll be able to tell you all how well someone's support for the space program correlates with their need to find dates online. Do space enthusiasts really hang out posting Friendster ads in their parents' basements? We soon shall know....