I really admire the older NASA's work, love the launch video of 1969 and the bravery of all these men. Also the Russians, I don't care about the political reasons, they put their lives on risk to get the job done, and that deserves my respect.
Off course, their work set the basis for our actual technology (satellite comunications, etc).
However, I think the actual NASA work is a waste of money. I'll not say they must share the money with poor people: if you have the money, you can spend it anyway you want. But what do we know about the earthqakes? how to predict tornados? how to get rid of nuclear waste? Maybe the outer space is the answer, but the NASA doesn't know it yet, because is too busy researching about the holes of a rock of the MX7654545 planet, wich is 120 light/years away from earth.