[OldDeckHand]

"why do you think US taxpayers payed for this experiment "

It happened outside the International Space Station. Who do you think is the largest single economic supporter of the ISS? The US Taxpayer. Although there are five primary owners of the station, and another dozen contributors, the US has EASILY born the lion's share of the financial burden.

I think the US taxpayer paid for it precisely because the US taxpayer paid for it.

[markman46]

well this could have been outside of the Japaneses JEM module or the euro Columbus module, or outside one of the russian modules, and a shuttle i am sure brought it back, but that does not cost billions to fly.

of course you are free to believe what you want.