No need to bow, Teddy Bear. The question you raise is a valid one.

My thought's always been that the money didn't go to space ... just some metal and plastics and stuff. The money went into the businesses that built the craft, the jobs that created, and the salaries of the people that work there ... not to mention the taxes that support the programs that help the hungry, poor, homeless, etc.

On the other side, the knowledge derived from challenging ourselves to do things that have never been done before seems to add real future value.

Probably just goofy thinking on my part ... but that's what I've always thoughtl.