Space exploration, except for military purposes, is over. We cannot afford it.
Private companies, however, can.
No it is not! The Chinese, Russians, Indians, and Japanese plan to continue manned space exploration (in a big way). It's just over for the US, busy checking its collective navel for lint.
Oh and by the way, he who holds the high ground commands the battle - which, of course, is precisely what those other countries realize and US nay sayers have forgotten.
So when China and others are busy making solar pannels cheaply on the moon's surface and exporting H3 back to their fusion reactors, I'm sure there will be many US citizens glad they made the wise choice of abandoning manned space travel.
They will read about the latest Chinese, Russian, Indian, Japanese project to colonize the rest of the solar system, by the intermitant light from their Chinese made solar/wind power generators.
They will be glad too that China agreed to take as many as possible on a first come, first served basis after all the Chinese people have departed and before that 195 km rock hits the Earth... if there is time...
Meanwhile the ROI for the Apollo Program investment of $35 billion 1960 dollats is about 700% In Laymans terms for every dollar invested in the Apollo program, 700 dollars was returned. Dish Network, computers, internet, cell phones and all the jobs created by this science and economic bump has been outstanding.
I think we can afford more space investment.