Yep. The race to the Moon was just a dick measuring contest between the US and USSR. Manned space travel is a meaningless ego trip for governments. Unmanned space travel is equally useless in practical terms - learning about other planets does nothing to help the proletariat on our own - but at least wastes less money.
Global internet connection via satellite, and GPS, on the other hand, have helped the proletariat in actual practical terms. It’s a shame it took all that billionaire ego dick waving to get there.
I think honestly this is a valid critique even as a fan of space exploration and a “luxury space communism” wisher.
I think visiting other planets has given us some scientific knowledge that is valuable in and of itself in a quest for self-improvement and exploration - seeking of answers to our questions and new questions. I would hope, that this one day can become a worthwhile pursuit for the collective humanity as a voluntary quest, but obviously it’s a misallocation of resources when there are capitalists to be eaten first and it’s only done as a way to one up the rival empire.
