I feel the justification for exploring space despite the challenges on earth is similar to the justification for poetry, art, and other "non-productive" activit

I feel the justification for exploring space despite the challenges on earth is similar to the justification for poetry, art, and other "non-productive" activity. Personally, I find "wasteful" uses of our energy to be an essential part of what makes us human. Lifting our eyes from time to time beyond the mere prosaic necessities of survival is something I find nourishing and necessary, and I suspect ultimately also makes it more possible for us to more effectively address things like the pressing challenges on earth.