Leader U.S. Continuing to Exploration be World 
On the eve of the final mission of the U.S. space shuttle program, most Americans say the United States must be at the forefront of future space exploration. Fifty years after the first American manned space flight, nearly six-in-ten (58%) say it is essential that the United States continue to be a world leader in space exploration; about four-in-ten say this is not essential (38%).
Leader U.S. Continuing to Exploration be World  | Leader Continuing in Space Exploration Is  | Not  | Essential  | essential  | 58%  | 38%  | DK  | 4%  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER June 15-19, 2011, 