Why was your wife audacious in asking that question? Was there some risk attached with questioning the logic of the endeavour?
Space exploration is an expensive diversion that will only ever benefit multi-national resource exploitation corporations and the ultra-rich, despite the fact its foundations are being paid for out of the public purse. All claims of medical breakthroughs through little forays into space (as justification) are shown for what they are, if you compare terrestrial progress with its astro equivalent.
Our trains suck and thousands freeze to death on our streets each winter, but at least we can send a failed probe to another planet. Yay.
