Tallahassee, FL –

In a dramatic new Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll, an overwhelming majority of Americans say they don’t want America’s manned space program to end and they believe the United States should continue to be a global leader in space. The results of the poll follow the recent return of the Space Shuttle Endeavour – the penultimate NASA Space shuttle mission.

“Human space flight symbolizes American ingenuity, innovation and imagination and any effort to ensure our nation remains at the forefront of manned space flight is strongly supported by the American people,” said Ron Sachs, President of Ron Sachs Communications. “The American people are emotional about maintaining our nation’s leadership in this important scientific endeavor.”

Sachs added, “More than two generations after President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to go ‘to the moon,’ rather than competing, the United States is ceding its leadership to space competitors such as Russia and China.”

Faced with a looming gap in the United States space program, NASA currently has no plans to continue manned space missions following 2011. Space Shuttle Atlantis is expected to launch as part of the Space shuttle program’s final mission in July of this year. Despite no plans to continue human space flight, NASA is on track to receive more than $100 billion in funding over the next five years.

Among the poll’s key findings:

57 percent of those surveyed support the United States maintaining its edge as a global leader in manned space exploration

Support for continuing the United State’s role as a space leader consists of 59 percent of Republicans, 57 percent of Independents and 54 percent of Democrats

Only 26 percent of respondents indicated they do not believe the United States should cede its leadership in space to another country

The Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. A total of 625 adults were interviewed between May 23 and 24 nationwide by telephone. The poll was commissioned by Tallahassee-based Ron Sachs Communications and conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc.

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625 adults interviewed nationwide from May 23-24, 2011 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. The margin for error is ±4%.

QUESTION: NASA is close to launching its final manned Space Shuttle and our nation's space program faces an uncertain future with no plans to continue sending men and women into space after 2011. Do you believe the United States should or should not continue to be a world leader in manned space exploration?

NATION DEM REP IND

SHOULD 57% 54% 59% 57%

SHOULD NOT 26% 31% 24% 22%

NOT SURE 17% 15% 17% 21%