Comment: Dedicated to David Andrew TaylorWhen it comes to conversations about funding, the questions of whether the United States should be spending its resources on space-based research often rears its head. Opponents of the idea tend to share the opinion that the resources would be better spent helping citizens on the ground. With an estimated homeless population around 562,000 throughout the country, roughly 39.4 million Americans (12.3% of the population) living below the poverty level, and 63.1 million tons of food waste per year, it's hard to argue that the United States does not have its share of problems that need to be addressed. However, a history of space-based research has proven time and time again to bring forth advances in technology and scientific understanding that benefit humans across the globe and provide crucial protection for life on Earth.