I was asked to repost this Facebook status as a blog post, so that others could share it.
When someone asks what good the space program ever did, I have to point out: The sky is blue and the sun is shining, yet we know that a potentially devastating hurricane is coming due to weather satellites. Thousands of lives are being saved because we spent less than 0.5% of our national budget on space exploration and research.
The benefits of scientific research aren’t always obvious. Ben Franklin flew a kite in a storm… and so we had electric power 150 years later.
Thank you!
This scientist and space exploration enthusiast agrees.