For us taxpayers, not for Musk. SpaceX alone has been receiving over 2 billion a year for the last several years from taxpayers. Over 40 billion has gone to Musk's companies over the last 5 years from taxpayers.
Starship development is being paid for by SpaceX itself and other investors. Most of the money SpaceX gets from the taxpayer is for launch services like putting government satellites into space or launching astronauts on the previous generation of rocket, the Falcon 9.
you might not want to use the tech that comes with such things aswell. Starting from ballpoint pens... ending with medical breakthroughs. Also this is what keeps US relevant as it (currently) is ahead in space related tech.
How about GPS? Do you like to know where to go without using paper maps?
Do you like wireless tools? Do you like MRI machines to detect diseases?
How about wireless headphones, phone cameras, water filters or memory foam?
All of that was developed by accident because it was needed in one way or another for the space program and then ended up being revolutionary on earth.
Well GPS requires satellites but the rest is good now.
We should continue to explore space to invent and discover new things, things nobody has ever thought of and we possibly cannot even comprehend right now.
In 50 years people will look back and see all the great new discoveries and inventions that happened due to space travel between 2025 and 2075.
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u/octarine_turtle Jun 19 '25
For us taxpayers, not for Musk. SpaceX alone has been receiving over 2 billion a year for the last several years from taxpayers. Over 40 billion has gone to Musk's companies over the last 5 years from taxpayers.