[whatshisface]

>However, very little energy was spent on questioning whether spending in space was right thing to do.

That's not true. Public opinion about the moon missions was divided throughout the whole program, and a lot of effort was spent debating it. It is only in retrospect that it seems like a no-brainer, because everyone who was against it has been forgotten and we know it was a success.

[thetruthseeker1]

That is great. However did you guys have a debate about US poverty after every Apollo mission? What about after you buy every F35? The cost of this Indian mission is about the cost of 1 F35. BTW, many decades back Indians also deliberated, and only then established ISRO.

Also, frankly, that's a question for Indians to debate and not a big fan of NY times casually questioning the judgement of that spending without giving it an elaborate treatment. I have seen this multiple times. India launched Mars craft, but there is poverty. India launches 100+ satellites in one mission, but there is poverty. Its irrelevant at that instant and seems only to diminish India's aspirations.

May be some of this journalists can take a look at Indian Budget, study it deeply, and find where the government can spend more wisely. I bet they will find more wasteful spending than the investment in ISRO and that may be helpful for the public to know.

[kmlx]

> However did you guys have a debate about US poverty after every Apollo mission?

Yes.

[karthikb]

See “Whitey on the Moon” for a great example of then-contemporary debate over the nation’s priorities.

[avip]

Completely coincidently I've heard it today first time starting with Angel-dust and flowing with YouTube's suggested. I'm completing my GSH education as we speak.

[mav3rick]

This song was featured in the movie "First Man".

[sanxiyn]

I don't think it is a no-brainer even in retrospect. Much of it was cold war idiocy.