> Most all of what NASA does or has ever done has directly benefited the Department of Defense.
Especially since a lot of the benefit has gone the opposite direction a lot of times - how many of our space telescopes started life as extra reconnaissance satellites?
This is precisely my point! As much as one might be morally against military research, it is well funded and bleeding edge.
Case in point: I had to get a double bunionectomy when I was in the Army after spending a year in Iraq and got my feet wrecked. They surgically broke my big toe in 2 places and drilled 2 holes. They then put "pins" in each hole made of pig cartilage. This procedure allows the body to heal and then it absorbs these "pins" which prevents arthritis. At the time I got this surgery, in 2004, it was not available to the general civilian population. Now, it is. It was pioneered to help the military and now the entire populace can benefit from the exact same technology.
Problem spaces that push boundaries of engineering ultimately result in better engineer for everyone.
Especially since a lot of the benefit has gone the opposite direction a lot of times - how many of our space telescopes started life as extra reconnaissance satellites?