No disrespect intended but the old "while there's still problems on this planet" argument is pretty meaningless. There's always going to be problems of one form or another on our planet, its just the way life works.

I'm no scientist so can't start to list examples of improvements from space travel, but they do exist. as a race we like to know what is going on around us, not just on our own planet but elsewhere in the universe. what would have happen if everybody just stuck to their own little corner of the planet because "our country has it's own problems"?

just my little rant on the topic

mike