Stupid politics are also what gutted Space Shuttle, and why NASA went begging for money to Pentagon (which led to horrible design faults). Cassini would have sp

Stupid politics are also what gutted Space Shuttle, and why NASA went begging for money to Pentagon (which led to horrible design faults). Cassini would have spearheaded standardised long-range exploration bus, but despite tremendous effort Congress slashed funding for the program so all the stuff that was to support serial production got slashed along with the other mission. Similarly nuclear space propulsion and nuclear power outside of RTGs in US space program were killed unilaterally by Nixon, killing all heavier missions outside of moon orbit.