We're Back! American Astronauts Launched In An American Rocket From American Soil

moparmandan said
Not going to try to change your mind. Just wondered if you knew?
Seems for less than half a percent of the total US budget, the US taxpayers get a hell of a lot for their money.
But I may be biased, lol.

NASA's budget for fiscal year (FY) 2020 is $22.6 billion. It represents 0.48% of the $4.7 trillion the United States plans to spend in the fiscal year. Since its inception, the United States has spent nearly US$650 billion (in nominal dollars) on NASA.

Money well spent, in my book.

im gonna try that argument with my wife
"listen honey, can i spend 100 bucks we dont have on my duster?
i know we dont have it, but we're spending 1800 a month on a mortgage and this is way less then that"

see my problem with that reasoning?

72bluNblu said
That’s because you’re completely ignorant of all the “useful” things we have today that exist because of space exploration and funding.

GPS, most of your hospital scanning equipment, wireless technology, LED’s, memory foam, scratch proof eyeglass coatings, cochlear implants, hand held vacuums, etc, etc all were either developed for or benefitted greatly from space research.

Just a few
JPL | 20 Inventions We Wouldn't Have Without Space Travel

few more
15 Space Age Inventions and Technologies We Use Everyday

not completely ignorant, i know about WD-40

but does the US government get royalties off a can of WD-40?
do the feds own stock in Garmin?
if i buy LEDs does a chunk of that go the treasury for more then taxes?

why is the taxpayer funding all this R&D for stuff without getting a return on investment?

im not against these inventions, and im not saying its bad they were invented
i AM saying i dont think it is the right place to spend money
simple as that