Answers Quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson
“'As a fraction of your tax dollar today, what is the total cost of all spaceborne telescopes, planetary probes, the rovers on Mars, the International Space Station, the space shuttle, telescopes yet to orbit, and missions yet to fly?' Answer: one-half of one percent of each tax dollar. Half a penny. I'd prefer it were more: perhaps two cents on the dollar. Even during the storied Apollo era, peak NASA spending amounted to little more than four cents on the tax dollar.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Colbert Report, 2009
The cost of space programs is a tiny fraction of each taxpayer’s dollar, often less than one percent.
In simple terms: Space costs are a very small part of taxes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize space spending is minimal.
Themes
budget
space exploration
public finance
Mood
analytical
critical
informative
Type
explanatory
educational
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- budget hearings
- educational outreach
- budget planning
Key Concepts
cost-benefit analysis
tax policy
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How much value do you think space research brings?
- Should public funds prioritize immediate needs over long‑term exploration?
A Different Perspective
Some argue even small percentages could be better allocated elsewhere.
![“They [scientists of centuries past] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations, however, God gets hardly a mention.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_century_they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-o_12921.jpg)
