NASA peaked at 4.4% of national spending, though not all of that was Apollo. Not every member of HN in America and they definitely don’t make the same salary b

NASA peaked at 4.4% of national spending, though not all of that was Apollo. Not every member of HN in America and they definitely don’t make the same salary but it’s like 600+$ in just one year taken out of your pocket and set on fire, except it’s worse. NASA’s budget for manned missions needs to be considered across time and as part of the US’s debt over 60+ years not just spending in individual years. Countries need some military spending but most countries have looked at manned missions as frivolous because they are. This is an annual trip to Cabo on your credit card not rent. As to the ongoing cost from Apollo/shuttle/etc population isn’t static, but people wouldn’t have gotten 30 year bonds at 15.21% in 1981 if the total debt was significantly less. So it’s not an easy calculation, but it’s a bigger debt burden than you might think. Which IMO puts these missions in a different light.