Having been in the aerospace industry, and having made a decent living there, along with a reasonable retirement fund; I cannot belittle the space exploration effort. And for those who don't know the everyday benefits of the space program, look them up sometime, you may be surprised. That Elon Musk and Space Ex are even doing what they're doing is pretty remarkable. Companies, like Space Ex, are in the business as a result of NASA and the federal government realizing a few years back that costs were getting out of hand, and something needed to be done. Privatization was the answer, and we've got Space Ex and Blue Origin now. The thinking was/is that private companies can and will do it cheaper, and that innovation will grow as a result of getting out of the rut of using only the same old NASA contractors; Boeing, Rockwell, Hughes, et al, and continuing to pay premium prices. And it has worked; hence the recoverable booster. But, don't forget about the Space Shuttle that, essentially, did the same thing for many years, though at a much higher price in dollars and lives.

But, yes, it would be nice if we could take some of the military budget and use it for more humane stuff. No argument there.

I would have more to say about it if it were the taxpayers money. As it is I think space exploration needs to continue and glad he is doing it on his dime. the we have more for the things you listed above

Hey look at that! The Earth is round! Who woulda thunk it? Lol

I think we need dreams along with the practical. - Now a "little less" spent on military - going towards humanity - would be ok.

All that you say is well and good, but the rich and powerful are not interested in any of what you say. From another post:
"The disposition to admire, and almost worship, the rich and the powerful, and to despise, or, at least, to neglect persons of poor and mean condition is the great and almost universal cause of the corruption of our moral sentiments." Adam Smith.