Public view of robots in space

How does the use of robots affect the public view of space? It costs less, but if we aren't using humans and appear to be trying to extend human colonization, if machines, not us, are conquering the new frontier, will they have less interest and want to give it less support? Does using robots in general instead of humans have that negative effect? What can we do about the possible negative affects of robotic use?

Yes...the most defining series of missions by the US space program ever were the Apollo missions to the moon. Sending robots to places simply doesn't capture the imagination like sending people does. We've sent unmanned probes outside our own solar system, but does anyone even care? For instance, the average American could name the first man on the moon, but could they name the furthest space probe from the Earth...most likely not. Probably the biggest reason why no one cares about space in Congress anymore is NASA hasn't pursued any missions that are of interest to the public...and no manned missions to anywhere besides Earth's orbit. Coincidence? I think not!