Views on Astronauts in the Future of U.S. Space Program, by Key Demographics % of U.S. adults who say human astronauts are essential or of not essential in the say future of the USS. space program
The Pew Research survey asked a question about the role of astronauts in the future as part of space exploration: “The cost of sending human astronauts to space is considerably greater than the cost of using robotic machines for space exploration. As you think about the future of the U.S. space program, do you think it is essential or not essential to include the use of human astronauts in space?”
A majority of the public (59%) says astronauts are essential to include in the future of the U.S. space program, while 39% say astronauts are not essential. By contrast, 52% of AAAS scientists say astronauts are not essential and 47% say they are essential.
Men are a bit more likely than women to consider astronauts essential in the future of the U.S. space program. There are no differences in views about this issue by age, race and ethnicity, or education.
Views on Astronauts in the Future of  | U.S. Space Program, by Key  | Demographics  | % of U.S. adults who say human astronauts are essential  | or of not essential in the say future of the USS. space program  | Not essential  | Essential  | US ad lults  | 39  | 59  | Men  | 32  | 66  | Women  | 44  | 52  | Whites  | 38  | 59  | Blacks  | 46  | 52  | 37  | Hispa nics  | 61  | 18-29  | 40  | 59  | 30-49  | 36  | 61  | 50-64  | 42  | 56  | 65+  | 36  | 60  | College grad  | 38  | 59  | Some college  | 38  | 59  | HS or less  | 39  | 58  | Survey ofu.s adults August 15-25 blacks 2014 Q30. Those non-Hispanics; saying don t  | Survey know are notshown. ofany August Whites and blacks include only non-Hispanics;  | Hispanics are ofany race.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 