Most Americans Say Detecting Asteroids Should Be NASA’s Top Priority

A newly-released survey by the Pew Research Center revealed how the American public feels about space exploration, the private space industry, and what NASA’s top priorities ought to be moving forward. The survey, released in July, indicates that about seven in ten Americans say continued US leadership in space is essential, but only a small percentage believe that private companies, especially SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic will be able to maintain that leadership or ensure enough progress is made without the involvement of NASA. In fact, 65 percent of US adults say NASA’s role in space exploration is critical.