Media use and US Attitudes Toward Government and Private Space Exploration

Abstract

A range of media—including science fiction television programs and films, news outlets, and social media platforms—present messages about space exploration by the US government (NASA) and private companies (such as SpaceX). With this in mind, the present study examines how different forms of media use predict support for space exploration. In doing so, it builds on theoretical accounts of genre-specific cultivation effects, news framing effects, and social media effects. The analyses use data from three national surveys conducted in 2016, 2020, and 2021. The results indicate that science fiction viewing predicts greater support for both government and privatelyfunded space exploration. The results yield mixed evidence on whether television news viewing predicts such support and little evidence that social media use does so. The study's findings highlight the potential role of science fiction in shaping public opinion about space exploration—which, in turn, may influence space policy.