NASA was gutted, both of funds and personnel. They were LAST in line to get any money.
Maybe they were "gutted" because they were so fucking stupid they couldn't be trusted to do things like SAVING THE ORIGINAL TAPES!!!
Holy Cow. I've read through this whole thread and see people trying to rationalize how NASA could have done something so monumentally stupid. Let's just all save some time and recognize the real reason --
THEY WERE STUPID, INCOMPETENT MOTHERFUCKERS.
NASA has betrayed an entire generation that entrusted them to safeguard the legacy of the tremendous efforts of a nation to push the frontiers of mankind to another world. NASA FUCKED IT UP and robbed future generations of humanity of their heritage. There is no excuse WHATSOEVER for that, and the significance of this utter disgrace should not be glossed over or diminished with bureaucratic understatement. NASA has also spit on the legacy of John F. Kendedy, proving that the only thing important to them about landing on the moon was the money they could get.
To be quite honest, NASA should be gutted again. They've got to use Russian built rockets to get the European and Canadian parts up to the space station, they don't know the difference between the metric system and the english system, they kill astronauts by the half-dozen, and interplanetary projects are handled at JPL. And if that's not enough, realize that the guy they put in charge of finding the tapes is the SAME SOB THAT LOST THEM.
"Houston, we've got a problem...And it's us."
I hope the shuttle gets back safe.