> much of what it does do could easily be replaced with a generative AI model that produces new space pictures for desktop backgrounds.

Ok, you're obviously trolling here. This is clearly bait. But for anyone else reading this:

NASA's budget for 2023 was roughly $25 billion [0]

For the same year, NASA generated (again, roughly) $76 billion in economic output [1].

Every dollar of funding goes back into the economy three-fold. Doesn't really seem like a waste to me.

Also, NASA's operations in 2023 created/supported over 300,000 jobs to Americans[2]. Again, doesn't seem like a waste to me.

[0] - https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/fiscal-year-...

[1] - https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/final-fy23-n...

[2] - https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/nasa-fy23-ec...