Post

NASA: $24.4 billion national health expenditures: $5,300 billion

Katie Mack@astrokatie.com

NASA isn't why the US doesn't have universal healthcare, or a social safety net. The US doesn't have those things because politicians with the power to provide them choose specifically not to (with varying levels of support from voters). Enthusiasm for human spaceflight doesn't drive that choice.

6/4/26, 3:49 am10 reposts52 likes

Jesse Berman

@jesseberman.bsky.social

6 Apr

NASA is also not just space exploration. It does an incredible amount of atmospheric and planetary research. We use NASA data for air pollution, urban heat islands, flooding data, wildfire smoke, weather forecasting, drought measures, etc. NASA is public health! And that saves lives.

Phil Verhoef

@philipverhoef.bsky.social

6 Apr

the bigger point is not the cost… that’s beside the point. it’s that we have chosen not to do it. every time i travel internationally i am reminded that it COULD be better in the USA but for our policy choices. le sigh

Seth Trueger

@mdaware.org

6 Apr

exactly. NASA isnt quite budget dust but its not sapping all of our resources