Reply #34: I am stunned too William. NASA has given back so much (for free) to the world. [View All]

[Statistical]

The benefits from the space program have paid dividends a thousand fold.

Sadly NASA isn't a commercial enterprise and they didn't patent inventions and charge huge licensing fees. If they had they would be awash in lifetime revenue streams now.

NASA did the right thing and gave away technology and research for decades. They did so because they assumed (naively I guess) that people would always see the value of theoretical research.

We have become the Big Mac and American Idol generation. No longer reaching for the impossible. Eventually I think other countries will.

Latin America, India, and China are growing rapidly. As their influence and wealth expands they will be progressive enough to put 0.1% towards exploration beyond this rock.

I think a human will land on Mars eventually i just doubt it will be an American. Our empire is in decline not just militarily, or economically but also scientifically. Eventually the rest of world will no longer look towards us for progress or innovation.

Cheer up though we can still watch American Idol while eating a Big Mac though because nobody would dare consider that a waste of money.