“but it has has inspirational value to many, and that can be very valuable”
Valuable to whom? To those who want the taxpayers to foot the bills for it?
Do I consider whether “life” exists on some other planets somewhere? Sure. Am I concerned about it? No. Do I lose sleep over it? No. Do I think it is an immediate pressing human concern? No. “Inspirational value”? Why and in what way?
We have plenty of time ahead of us for answering questions like that.
Right now it’s like asking to tell two year olds about sex. There is as yet no need to know, and we are less than “two year olds” when it comes to exploring the universe.
Go ahead. Look for “planet X”. Just don’t dun the taxpayers for it.
Like I said, you’ve been outvoted on the issue.