[phoenix0468]

Unfortunately I can't muster up the same enthusiasm for a program that IMO sends money down a hole. Please correct me if I'm misunderstood, but what exactly has the space program given back to the U.S. economy in terms of innovation and new technology since the advent of the Shuttle program?

[HiJinx]

but what exactly has the space program given back to the U.S. economy in terms of innovation and new technology since the advent of the Shuttle program?

Talk about raining on a guy's parade. You are griping about NASA "since the advent of the shuttle program" and LokiBob is talking about events that predate that by two decades.

What reason do you have for being so nasty to another FReeper?

[Lokibob]

The list is endless, from computers, to space communications. the military technology today owes it all to NASA.

Look, private industry can not and will not invest the bucks into pure research . They only step in after the concepts have been proven.

As for the money used in the space development. Where do you suppose it is spent? In space? No, it is spent right here on earth. It goes to the builders of the rockets, the technicians, the scientists; who, in turn, spend the money on houses, cars and tips for waitresses.

If you can not see any benefit to the space program, you aren't looking, just complaining.