Yes!
I’m watching NASA TV, and the discussion they just had about how they built Messenger was fascinating. They all talk about how it took 12 years from Powerpoint to Mercury Orbit, including 7 years the spacecraft has spent in transit!
In particular, the carbon fiber construction modules they came up with 12 years ago is just amazing, and it makes me wonder what these incredibly brilliant people are working on right now....
What will they have to show us in 12 more years? I realize NASA is downsizing along with much of the US Space program but there are still plenty of Universities with great programs that will continue to feed JPL and other groups that consistently come up with these amazing missions.
The things I’ve seen in just my lifetime....
Can’t wait for the new Mars rover
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Science_Laboratory
and the visit to Pluto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Horizons
Lots to look forwards to.