Simply put, politicians need to spend tax dollars on technology's that have the greatest benefits to taxpayers. Flying to the moon, for example, may not necessarily make taxpayer's lives any easier, but it does offer a rise in morale and a boost in trust that political leaders will accomplish what they set out to achieve. In a more practical sense, researching the cure for cancer is a much easier sell to the general public as it has a more obvious positive impact on taxpayers.