Most Americans are Pro-Space Travel, Poll Says

As Atlantis gears up for what will be America's final space shuttle mission on Friday, a recently released poll shows that most of the country thinks the space program is the bee's knees. The Pew Research Center found that 58% of Americans polled responded that they think space exploration "is essential for the U.S." Only 38% believed the opposite. Despite the fact that the shuttle program is being scrapped because of budget concerns, 55% told pollsters that it has been a "good investment." After Friday, American astronauts will have to hitch rides on either commercial or international spacecrafts due to this "essential, good investment" being shut down. [National Journal]