商业利益超越宏大使命，个人诉求主宰太空雄心，NASA如何跌落“神坛”

Core Viewpoint - NASA, once regarded as a "crown jewel" of the U.S. government, is facing decline due to a loss of public trust and insufficient funding, despite bipartisan support for ambitious goals [1] Group 1: Historical Context - NASA was established in 1958 during a peak in public trust in government, aiming to showcase American superiority [2] - The Apollo program, initiated by President Kennedy, employed around 400,000 people and cost approximately $28 billion, symbolizing American capability and confidence [2] Group 2: Budget Cuts and Challenges - NASA proposed a manned Mars mission to President Nixon, which was met with budget cuts due to shifting public sentiment favoring social programs over space exploration [3] - Nixon approved a budget of slightly over $3 billion annually for NASA, significantly reducing the proposed Mars mission budget [3] - Over the years, NASA has increasingly relied on large private contractors like Boeing, which have been criticized for high costs and poor performance [3][4] Group 3: Shift in Focus and Influence - The U.S. government has shifted its focus towards private companies like SpaceX, reducing NASA's scientific mission and budget by nearly 25% in the 2026 proposal [5] - This shift has granted significant influence to private individuals like Elon Musk, raising concerns about the privatization of public space exploration efforts [5] - The exploration of space, once a collaborative human endeavor, is now increasingly driven by commercial interests, undermining NASA's original mission [5][6]