For example, what commercial interests could be gained from space missions?
Arguments that the copious knowledge gained from space probes was worth the financial cost were also readily dismissed.
Estimating that the United States had by then spent $35 billion or $40 billion on space activities, Johnson said, "If nothing else had come of it except the knowledge we've gained from space photography, it would be worth 10 times what the whole program has cost".
What could you gain from space each day?
Larger Southern California subcontractors also anticipate new orders but less spectacular employment gains from the space station.
Its like-for-like sales – which exclude gains from new shopfloor space – tumbled 5.5% in the final three months of the period.
Like-for-like sales in the UK – which exclude gains from new shopfloor space – fell by 1.5% in the third quarter, excluding new stores and petrol, with Tesco blaming "an unprecedented period of declining incomes" and a "challenging grocery market".
The group, which is in the sights of Sainsburys and received a £1bn approach from the grocer in November, said like-for-like sales, which exclude gains from new store space, had tumbled 2.2% in the 18 weeks to 2 January.
Profits jumped 15% to £340m and like-for-like sales – which exclude gains from new shopfloor space – were up 6% in the year to 2 February, making JD a standout performer when some of the biggest names in retail are being forced to close stores amid rising costs and a shift to online spending.
They have the most to gain from green spaces, yet may have the poorest access through a lack of purchasing power.
