It’s obvious you are very pro space so I’m just going to leave it at this. As for these ground application accomplishments I think they would have been developed anyway. I know this is how space travel is normal justified but I don’t buy it.
No question of that. But at a substantially slower pace.
I don't mind paying extra for the space program. It has a far better purpose and rate of return than welfare, the EPA and the Department of Education to name a few. And those programs cost us more than five bucks a year.
Just my two cents.