Forbes cited data from the General Social Survey (GSS) in a July 16, 2009 story on American spending priorities. 

Author Karlyn Bowman, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, noted that, even after each of the shuttle tragedies, more than 80 percent of Americans said the program should continue.  When asked about the cost, support was somewhat less strong.  According to the GSS, more than half of Americans said that the government spends "about the right amount" on space exploration, while 35 percent said it spends "too much" and 10 percent said it spends "too little." 

NORC conducts the General Social Survey every other year with sponsorship by the National Science Foundation and others.