The Cassini Space Probe

[The Romulan Republic]

Honestly, it seems to be more a problem of funding that jackknifes based on public opinion and shifting directions that depend on what ever administration is currently in charge (For example, I remember that Nixon had a hand in cancelling Apollo because it was closely linked with Kennedy, his political rival). And it isn't a left-right issue

Yup. Space is something that would benefit both the Left and the Right (the Left gets pure science, education, climate research, and a jobs/infrastructure program; the Right gets national pride and national security benefits, plus nice fat contracts for private space enterprise), and yet somehow manages to get roundly fucked by both sides of the isle.

[Admiral X]

Both sides would rather spend the money on something else.

[The Romulan Republic]

Which is staggeringly short-sighted, given the benefits, both short and long-term, and the relatively tiny percentage of the federal budget the space program actually consumes..

I expect a lot of it on the public side is due to simple ignorance, and on the political side... well, why pour money into something that won't show its best results until after the next election cycle?

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Short-sighted seems to be the name of the game. =/ It's the same reason we're pumping money into oil subsidies and fracking instead of clean energy and global warming solutions.