It depends on the era you're talking about. I doubt that a couple more deaths in the 1950s & 60s would have caused many more delays. The costs were high but the prize of being the first into space, the first into orbit and the first on the moon was worth it to the men and women who worked in the program. But over the years as space explortation became less pollitically motivated and more scientifically motivated the loss of a crew would cause more delays becuase there is no longer the ego to win.

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"Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time... and your government when it deserves it." - Mark Twain