Sure, if it can be demonstrated that space exploration is related to national defense, I’m all for it. But consider this: We have slashed spending on programs which are indubitably about defense, like the F-22 and upgrading our nuclear missiles, while you want us to spend billions on manned exploration of Mars. Lifting anything out of the earth’s gravity is horrendously expensive in terms of energy and money. Meanwhile our enemies are pursuing cheap and effective weapons like jet fighters and cruise missiles.
They get bigger the more power I can generate - say I build a rail gun, then I can send you a very big rock. Or perhaps I'm really pissed. Hop on over to a passing asteroid and send you a kilometer sized care package.
If someone else holds the high ground and that high ground is some 200,000 miles away, you are going to have a very difficult up hill battle.
Those other weapons systems cheap or not you refer to just became ancient history.
Easily demonstrated. I’m on the moon. I hate you or you won’t do what I want you to do. Therefore I just use some ingenuity to attach a small rock with a guidance pack addressed to you personally. Ooops.
They get bigger the more power I can generate - say I build a rail gun, then I can send you a very big rock. Or perhaps I’m really pissed. Hop on over to a passing asteorid and send you a kilometer sized care package.
If someone else holds the high ground and that high ground is some 200,000 miles away, you are going to have a very difficult up hill battle.
Those other weapons systems cheap or not you refer to just became ancient history.