Successful explorers become popular heroes. Their achievements thrill and delight people who do not have the energy, resources, or courage to go themselves.
America’s space program taps into this spirit of adventure. Astronauts became the heroic explorers of the twentieth century. They opened new frontiers and set foot on the Moon. These successes were achieved at a high price. They cost the country human lives and billions of dollars that some critics say could have been spent feeding the poor, healing the sick, and housing the homeless.
Space exploration is appealing on a psychological level. It is awesome, daring, and closely associated with the nation’s can-do optimism and patriotic pride. A robust space program also showcases and strengthens American capabilities in science, engineering, and technology.
Space Travellers 