I get your point but if you look at the number of technologies over the second half of the XX century that spanned from research on planes and space, it is still indirectly beneficial for us mere earth people.
Which technologies? Teflon? Tang? Now that we have more and more of our country living either in prisons or under bridges than at any point in time, which of these amazing space technologies will most benefit the prison population/mentally ill the most?
First result on google and if you include planes I am sure there are many more: