Did you get to spend any time with astronauts?

Many live in the towns nearby, and attend church or synagogue with astronauts training here.

A civilian who recently dined with astronauts paid $20 million for the privilege, and all he got to eat was space food.

Like Houston suddenly making contact with astronauts coming round the dark side of the moon, the picture came in.

Did they have any particularly memorable conversations with former astronauts or other well-known figures in the space program?

"She's worked with astronauts, been to launches, eyes widen open, knew what this business was about," he said.

Host an amateur radio contact with astronauts aboard the space station.

But politicians know that the American public identifies progress in space with human astronauts.

Programs include daily news conferences and interviews with astronauts in orbit.

Even more limited decisions - like whether to fly the shuttle with fewer astronauts - will be made by others, he said.