[tricky_k_1972]

I’m watching my teevee piping stuff into my living room by little birdies just floating around up there, and it costs me maybe 40 bucks a month.

Not one taxpayer dollar paid for those birdies.

WRONG! Those solar panels were developed as a NASA spin off, the rocket that got them there also a NASA spin off, the communications space ready hardware also a NASA spin off, the overall hardware configuration to include "space keeping" thrusters also a NASA spin off.

Basically if it is in space and it is ours (meaning US originated) it is a DIRECT NASA spin off (meaning technology developed for NASA).

Think of NASA as the Interstate System and Ford combined and everybody else is just working off their original blueprints and adding a better head light.

[P-40]

Those solar panels were developed as a NASA spin off

There is a NASA site for spin-off technologies or at least there used to be. I can remember asking them to do one back when it would be delivered by newsletter...on paper. :)