Those who deride the space program as useless and unnecessary seem not to realize that if the technologies and experience developed there allow it to save even one major city from an asteroid strike, it will have paid off a million times over.

Never mind that if it one day allows us to somehow divert a planet-killer asteroid, it will have paid off, well, for everything.

Anyway, some things humans should do just because they are awesome and amazing.

Unfortunately, I’ve found those who oppose space programs and the like are not nearly as practical as they imagine themselves to be. Practicality also involves resilience, and knowing that for even the smartest person not all ends can be seen.