From an article a few years ago...
As measured by the absolute total federal dollars devoted annually to civilian space activity,
space exploration resources are near an all time high (approximately 17.6 billion dollars). Even accounting for inflation, the absolute dollar amount devoted to space is roughly comparable to the NASA budgets throughout the agency's history with the exception of the heaviest expenditures during the Apollo program. Improvements in productivity in the US economy allow NASA budgets to remain significant even as such expenditures represent a smaller percentage of overall federal spending.
Moreover, if we are to base activity on the quantity of useful science accomplished, the rate of progress has never been greater. Advancements in space technology and, perhaps more importantly,
electronics have made it possible to achieve far more with much less money. Historically, approximately half of all unmanned probes have been launched since the turn of the century. Moore’s Law ensures that as a general proposition, on a dollar for dollar basis, each succeeding spacecraft is more capable than the one before it.
I worked for a DOD contractor for about 10 years at what was then called Lewis Research Center in Cleveland Ohio... it's now Glenn Research Center.. just so we're clear here... named after John Glenn
Every year we'd go through this stress of possibly losing some of our budget... or getting out-right slashed
NASA doesn't have protected funding like SS or Welfare... so it's had it's ups and downs over the decades.
And before you jump all over me... just saying it's much more difficult for a politician to say they are going to cut SS or Welfare than NASA..
Bacon and cigarette's a lousy dinner...
