Neil deGrasse Tyson seems to think so... the video below is NdGT giving the commencement address at Rice University in Houston on May 11, 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1x6ymwJHYSk

It's really an excellent example of a *clear* look back on history and discussing *why* the early US manned space program went where it did as fast as it did...

There's nothing wrong with that.

BUT -- at 17:16, the real home-run shot comes into play:

...and I can tell you that in the years since we landed on the Moon, America has lost its exploratory compass.

The real question, I guess is... how do we find that again?