Research is needed, it's hard to predict, and Development for space forces the movement of practical, envelope pushing movement of research and theory into at s

Research is needed, it's hard to predict, and Development for space forces the movement of practical, envelope pushing movement of research and theory into at some hard problem solving in ways that just more research doesn't accomplish. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_solar_cells https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_solar_cells Space isn't solely responsible for solar cells, but I can't help but note these entries in the timeline. 1950s - Bell Labs produce solar cells for space activities. 1954 - On April 25, 1954, Bell Labs announces the invention of the first practical silicon solar cell 1958 - T. Mandelkorn, U.S. Signal Corps Laboratories, creates n-on-p silicon solar cells, which are more resistant to radiation damage and are better suited for space. Hoffman Electronics creates 9% efficient solar cells. Vanguard I, the first solar powered satellite, was launched with a 0.1W, 100 cm² solar panel. Would the solar cell technology we enjoy today have developed as quickly or at all with that little extra push of space investment to move it along? Would the research ever have ended up as practical without hard engineering problems to solve along the way? I think you'll find similar connections for fuel cells, and battery tech. You see metals research now which is applicable for the space application first, but the engineering knowledge will likely get re-applied in more expanded mundane applications in due time...