>Space exploration offers significant benefits long-term but generally provides no immediate pay-off next quarter.
Really? What about all the inventions discovered during the space race...The biggest impact inventions being integrated circuits, satellite communications and GPS, but there were so many others like Corningware[1], Tempur foam [2], LEDs, Freeze Drying Technology, etc [3] that one could argue provided many short term benefits and enabled discoveries of countless others.
These short-term benefits are minuscule compared to both the costs and the long-term benefits. There are more cost-effective ways of developing better frying pans, pillows and small blinking lights than running a space exploration program. OTOH, there is no other way to ensure long term survival of human civilization than diversifying our real estate away from one planet.
The only reliable way to argue for space exploration is by explaining how important the long-term benefits are.
The only reliable way to argue for space exploration is by explaining how important the long-term benefits are.