Decades ago, a friend of mine went to work for NASA-Ames in the Bay Area.
She told me it was filled with PhDs, all doing pointless work trying to ride things out till retirement.
She left soon after.
I read both the Columbia and Challenger accident reports a while back. Those reports ought to be read by every taxpayer. My opinion of NASA hasn’t recovered.
Here is why—NASA is a PR con while the real action is elsewhere:
https://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Reveal-Programs-Extraterrestrial-Alliances/dp/0982290284