OSKALOOSA — An overwhelming majority of those readers who answered this past week’s Question of the Week: Do you agree with the Casey Anthony verdict? said NO.

Forty-five — 23 percent — said YES while 140 — 70 percent — replied NO and 14 — 7 percent — answered I DON’T CARE.

The Question of the Week poll is not scientific and only reflects the opinions of those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The Question of the Week is just another way the Herald’s readers can voice their opinions about issues that affect them.

This week’s Question of the Week deals with the future of NASA.

The space shuttle Atlantis blasted off Friday for the final shuttle mission as it traveled to dock with the International Space Station. The space shuttle program has served the nation for 30 years.

Atlantis delivered a year’s worth of supplies to the space station in the final mission of the shuttle program.

NASA is getting out of the launching-to-orbit business, giving Atlantis, Endeavour and Discovery to museums, so it can start working on human trips to asteroids and Mars. Private U.S. companies will pick up the more mundane job of space station delivery runs and, still several years out, astronaut ferry flights, the Associated Press reported.  

The AP reports that NASA Administrator Charles Bolden stressed in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” program Sunday morning that the United States will remain the world leader in space exploration, even after the shuttles stop flying.

“I would encourage the American public to listen to the president,” Bolden said. “The president has set the goals: an asteroid in 2025, Mars in 2030. I can’t get any more definitive than that.”

What is the future of the U.S. manned space program?

What do you think?

This week’s Question of the Week: Should NASA continue manned space exploration?

People can vote on The Herald’s Web site, oskaloosa.com, from Monday through noon on Friday. Then, votes will be tallied and published the following Monday.