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1 in 8 households in America was food insecure in 2017 [1]. Do you think it's justified to spend 20 billion dollars on NASA when America can't even provide food security to each of its residents, and reports of crumbling infrastructure from all corners of the country, from collapsing bridges to cracking dams speak the sorrow tale of construction quality in what is supposed to be a 1st world country?
I saw a commercial on TV recently claiming 1 in 6 households in America were "food insecure". I don't buy it. Food costs are still low, food banks still have food and EBT is still available. When I was younger I was well below whatever the poverty line was defined as, and most if not all of my friends/neighbors were in similar situations, and I never once witnessed or heard of anyone going hungry, let alone feeling insecure about obtaining food. Paying the electricity bill on the other hand...
The budget is tiny compared to national welfare schemes. India's remote sensing satellites have helped countless farmers as well. Not to mention the inspiration it gives to future generations.
Every country with a space program has its issues and underfunded social welfare programs. This should not stand in the way of innovation. Having indigenously developed space technology offers India a unique strategic advantage especially when it's achievements have come at a fraction of the cost of other programs (Mangalyaan for example).
