[RightWhale]

what it is we've received in exchange for all the billions of taxpayer dollars we've sunk into NASA

Ignoring the self-answering part of the request, the purpose of NASA is to keep the USA pre-eminent in space. The USA is pre-eminent in space. QED

[RoadKingSE]

Ignoring the self-answering part of the request, the purpose of NASA is to keep the USA pre-eminent in space. The USA is pre-eminent in space. QED

Hey NASA! Thanks for the Tang. Oh and those astronaut diapers, COOL.

I think I'd rather have my tax dollars fund pre-eminence in development of IED-proof combat vehicles, or a suicidal islamist extermination spray. I can watch Channel 13 for the weather report. Cape Canaveral would make a nice golf resort.