Space research isn’t as expensive as people think:

Many countries around the world invest in space science and exploration as a balanced part of their
total federal budget. Public opinion research has shown that people estimate NASA to take up as
much as a quarter of the U.S. federal budget, but in fact, NASA’s budget only represents about 0.5%
of the total federal budget and the proportion is even smaller for other spacefaring nations. The
correct information may go a long way to reassuring critics that space spending isn’t eating up as
many public resources as they think.

Studying space helps us understand our own world

Studying the cosmos gives us an important perspective shift. When we learn about what lies
beyond Earth, it gives us context for understanding our own planet. Studying the other worlds
of our solar system and beyond makes it clear that Earth is a precious oasis for life. When we
sent spacecraft to Venus we saw how a runaway greenhouse effect turned the world from a
habitable planet to an absolute hellscape. When astronauts travel into space they see just how
thin and tenuous Earth’s atmosphere is, appreciating the fragile balance in which we live. A
cosmic perspective underscores the importance of protecting our planet’s habitability and
encourages investment in that effort.

Studying space may one day save us all

All the social and environmental progress in the world won't help us if an asteroid impacts
the Earth. We have to explore space to find and study the asteroids and comets in our cosmic
neighborhood if we want to make sure we can defend our planet if an object ever heads our
way.

There’s plenty of room at the table

There’s no denying that there are many important issues facing humanity that need fixing.
But to deal with those problems doesn’t mean we have to stop looking up, stop exploring, and
stop making discoveries.

Human civilization has astonishing capacity, and we can do more than one important thing at
a time. If someone thinks that a particular issue should get more attention and investment,
they can and should advocate for that. The problems we face don’t persist because we’re
spending money on space science and exploration. And there’s no reason to pit our
aspirations against one another.

Didn’t I promise you the moon?

Political cartoons appearing during the summer of 1969 illustrate a
cultural divide over the state, and future direction, of the nation.
Should America spend twenty billion dollars to win a Cold War battle
to land the first humans on the moon? Or should the United States use
those resources instead to tackle problems closer to home, including
war, racism and environmental pollution? By suggesting various
answers to these questions, political cartoons invited Americans into
an important civic dialogue at a time of great social upheaval and
political unrest. 

Pollution cartoon:

Environmentalists also had a bone to pick with Apollo.  During the

summer of 1969,  one of the most poignant expressions was a cartoon
by L.D. Warren that depicted Neil Armstrong pausing for a moment,
before climbing back up the ladder for Apollo 11’s return trip, to stare
back at a smog-shrouded Earth with the word “POLLUTION” 
obscuring most of North America.  “Let’s take a few more deep
breaths, Buzz, before we leave!” Armstrong tells Aldrin.  The message,
unlike the atmosphere back home, was crystal clear.  In the rush to
land men on the moon, the space race in general, and Apollo in
particular, had diverted the nation’s attention form more pressing
environmental problems on Earth.

Problems of increase in discrimination on basis of race:

The Chicago Defender, a cornerstone of the black press at the time,

illustrated African-American views in “What about the Space between
Races of Man,” a cartoon by Chester Commodore, published on the
eve of the Apollo 11 launch.  In it, a black hand labeled “Humanity on
Earth” reached out towards a stream of dollar sign-shaped exhaust
emanating from a small Apollo spacecraft orbiting the moon in the
distance.  African American opposition to the space race was also
suggested by the body language of the cartoon’s Uncle Sam, who
protectively straddled the rising dollar signs while turning his face, in
apparent annoyance, to the outstretched hand. During the late 1960s,
the Chicago Defender ran nearly one dozen cartoons that similarly
illustrated both the anger and apathy of African Americans regarding
the moon landing.