I hate this question, because it is such a cliche in our American culture to ask this kind of question about EVERYTHING. Most tax payers have an intuitive understanding of the value of various human activities in the arts and sciences. They also do not need to be told what the benefits are because it usually does not take a 'rocket scientist' to see them.
If you want a list of practical benefits, just look at the Wall Street Journal and stock reports from high-tech companies. All of them came into existence AFTER the start of the Space Program. You should also consider that virtually every country on the planet with enough capital wants to 'get into space' even if they have to hitch a ride with the 'big boys' to do so. Sweden has 9 million people, but a very active space program of world-class caliber. Impoverished India and China have very aggressive space programs. It is not a coincidence that we are the technological leaders of the world and that we have the most well-established space record of any country. We have launched thousands of satellites, and support hundreds of active communication and monitoring platforms which handle nearly $100 billion in commerce. Space and space-related technology is not only a major employer of the brightest scientists and engineers in our society, but companies that work in the 'space sector' are also leaders in commercial product development as well.
Beyond the dollars and cents aspect of space, which returns 6-10 dollars for every one invested, you must not discount the impact that it has on our children who see it as an important stimulus for them to become adept in science and math. It is also the only activity that directly connects us as explorers with the rest of the universe. Ask a child about traveling to mars and you will get a very different response than asking them about any other issue in their lives.
Copyright 1997 Dr. Sten Odenwald
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