[Opislossy]

And tell me, [1] does that mean we always need a political reason? [2] Does that mean if it wasn't for politics, space science/endeavours would never have got started? [3] Did the Wright Brothers start their endeavour due to political pressure?

The Realiity is, political pressure got man to the Moon, sooner then he normally would have, that's all....simple as that!

And whatever the future of NASA is, we will still go back to the Moon, go to Mars and one day to the stars,..that's the future. [1] well if we want government to be involved then yes, we do need a political reason - that's the way government works

[2] no one said that

[3] I'm not sure if they did or they didn't, but anyway I'm unsure how that is relevant

I look at manned space flight to the moon and I see it effectively finishing with the cold war, why is this do you think??

In regards to the future for NASA, I agree, I doubt it will disappear entirely; however its functions will slowly be adsorbed into the private sector.

I'll point out that there is currently no formal plan to return to the moon