I worked for JPL in the early 80's and it was sad that the 60's vintage go-go NASA spirit was already dying or dead.
The problem was that the people with the work ethic to make genuine projects happen had left because without the near-term goals, they didn't have the enthusiasim. The people left were typical government bureaucrats, putting in their time at a job they couldn't be fired from. In one instance, I rescued a PhD that had been given a simple contract research project that he wasted 2 years on and was incapable of completing. We did it in 1 week.
The Columbia and Challenger crews were a sad loss. I would have flown on those flights if I'd have had the chance. But in 100 shuttle flights, what have they accomplished? That's plenty of time to have assembled a Mars vehicle in LEO. They easily could have flown a Moon return flight by Von Braun's original Earth Orbit Redeveus method.
But instead, they did safe, bureaucratic same old, same old flights.
I'm no more impressed now that I was in, what was it, 1981 when Columbia first flew?
They've completly wasted 20 years with no real accomplishments. Apollo was designed and built and we learned how to fly it in something like 5 years.
What a waste.
And I believe many of the problems have been addressed in the new space iniative. The people that wrote it are keenly aware of NASA's past problems.
www.nasawatch.com is an excellent web page to keep track of things. Bush has threatened to veto the budget if they touch NASA. That is amazing. Clinton wouldnt have cared one wit.
I am old enough to remember the plastic moon rover toys on TANG. I have watched the space program very closely a long time now. I have seen it held hostage by politicians, both presidents and congress. What Bush is doing is revolutionary for NASA. Im not just waving Bush's flag here either. I have not heard language backed up by leadership like this since Reagan on space.
Americans want a space program. A recent poll showed strong support for it.
http://www.space.com/news/space_poll_040719.html
We have a president that is willing to lead now. I am pretty sure he he is going to win.
I know its not much in the medias radar screen. But the new space initiative is steady, building blocks over time, with long term goals of human exploration. If my generation is going to see man back to the moon. This is the opportunity. Under Bush, given another four years to cement the new iniative in place. I see no reason why NASA would repeat the same mistakes. There are too many people that want this to work now.