Exploration, especially space exploration, has only ever come with military advantages. If one could interest military agencies that the exploration was in their best interests we could see a space-revival of sorts. That would only last for as long as the military advantage lasts.

This is an unfortunate reality of our society. We've only ever spent dollars in space when it was advantageous to our Department of Defense, and the military in general.

People and companies who have succeeded in space have tied their goals to overarching military objectives. It's the best way to win the space race. Make the military understand they need to do the thing you want to do.