Were the Apollo Missions a waste of money?

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Critics of manned spaceflight argue that the financial return on investment for such missions is low compared to the potential benefits of funding other scientific projects. The discussion reflects on the historical significance of the Apollo missions, with some participants acknowledging their value despite typically opposing manned missions. The conversation shifts to NASA's current plans for manned missions to Mars, with opinions divided on whether these endeavors are worthwhile. Some argue that manned missions inspire public interest in science and technology, potentially motivating future generations to pursue STEM careers. Others counter that the excitement generated by such missions may not significantly impact long-term interest in science, suggesting that investing in education and terrestrial projects could yield better returns. The debate also touches on the intangible benefits of exploration, such as human achievement and unity, versus the pressing needs of solving issues like poverty and health care on Earth. Ultimately, the discussion highlights a complex interplay between the desire for exploration, the practicalities of funding, and the broader implications for society and technological advancement.
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DarthMatter said:
What site are you referring to? I think there may be a misunderstanding. I didn't say they didn't advance scientific fields or that their research focused on a too narrow field. I'm saying the cost of these advancements was probably higher than it needed to be - and there even are fields or even not directly science-related undertakings which may be considered more important by many, but on which the impact of space programs was in comparison very small.
certainly we could consider however many billions went into the space program as food which could have saved tens of millions of lives during some of the famines in recent history. but as i posted in an earlier response the advances in plastics alone created the environment necessary for the mass production of computers which became the personal computers ...etc... how many related advances would have not occurred had those conditions not been there at the time?

PS: this site "Physics forum"
 
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