Congressional Support Impacts How NASA Spends

by Peter Overby, NPR

As the shuttle Atlantis makes its final orbits of the Earth Wednesday night, it's carrying four astronauts, some trash from the space station and a load of congressional politics. Capitol Hill has always been deeply involved in NASA's activities — and sometimes seems to regard NASA as a jobs program as well as a space program.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, July 20, 2011