[Hodar]

You nailed my biggest gripe about NASA with your post. NASA used to be about science, about taking chances, about progress. Now, it's a gov't job with stability and benefits. Unions have taken over jobs of technicians and engineers. Politicians get to use NASA as a photo-op. Heck, when I worked there, and astronauts from Challenger were killed (people I actually knew and worked with), NASA organized a site-wide ceremony to say 'good-bye'. However, 3 hours before it was to start, we were dis-invited so some politicians could fly in, sit in our seats, and give speeches to reporters. The spirit NASA had in the 60-70's is long dead. I wish it weren't true, but it is.

[RadioAstronomer]

I missed your side of NASA (thank God) I was at JPL doing interplanetary work. It is kinda diff than the rest of NASA. :-) I left JPL to work on Space Station. I quit within two years.