The focus on ambitious manned missions can indeed divert funding from robotic missions and scientific exploration that could yield greater knowledge about the cosmos. This is primarily due to the significant costs associated with manned missions, which often require extensive research, development, and infrastructure to support human life in space.

One example of this diversion can be seen in NASA's Apollo program in the 1960s and early 1970s. The Apollo missions aimed to land humans on the moon, and they were an incredible achievement for human space exploration. However, the tremendous costs of the Apollo program resulted in a decrease in funding for robotic missions and scientific exploration. For instance, the highly successful robotic lunar missions, such as the Lunar Orbiter and Surveyor program, were scaled back or canceled to allocate resources to the manned missions.

Another example is NASA's Space Shuttle program, which spanned from 1981 to 2011. The Space Shuttle was designed to transport astronauts and cargo to and from low Earth orbit. While it enabled important scientific experiments and the deployment of satellites, it consumed a significant portion of NASA's budget, leaving limited resources for robotic missions to explore other parts of the solar system. This diversion of funding is evident in the delayed or canceled missions to Mars, such as the Mars Sample Return mission, which could have provided invaluable insights into the Red Planet's geological and atmospheric composition.

Furthermore, the International Space Station (ISS) is a prominent example of a manned mission that diverts funding from other scientific endeavors. The ISS is a multinational collaborative project involving numerous countries, and its maintenance and operation require substantial financial resources. These resources could have been allocated to robotic missions to explore other celestial bodies or conduct more extensive scientific research in space.

It is important to note that manned missions do contribute to scientific knowledge and technological advancements. For instance, the Apollo missions brought back lunar samples, which have been studied for decades and continue to provide valuable insights into the moon's formation and history. Additionally, manned missions can inspire the public and generate significant interest in space exploration, which can lead to increased support and funding for scientific missions.

However, it is crucial to strike a balance between manned and robotic missions to maximize our understanding of the cosmos. Robotic missions are often more cost-effective, can be designed for specific scientific objectives, and can explore regions that are inhospitable to humans. They have yielded remarkable discoveries, such as the Mars rovers' findings of evidence for past water on the Martian surface and the Voyager spacecraft's exploration of the outer planets and beyond.

In conclusion, the focus on ambitious manned missions can divert funding from robotic missions and scientific exploration that could potentially yield greater knowledge about the cosmos. While manned missions have their own merits, it is essential to carefully allocate resources to ensure a balanced approach that maximizes scientific understanding and exploration of our universe.