Shaky argument "we've already spent X, so that's lost if we don't spend more". The "sunk cost" argument, which is misleading. That money isn't lost, it paid salaries and bought some hardware that might find life in other programs. The question is, does it make sense to continue to pour money into this pot or would that money be better spent elsewhere. Knowing NASA and university operations, I'd suspect there are better places for the money.