The Pathfinder Mission to Mars cost $266 million. What are some of the benefits of exploring other planets

Are there other things that you think the money could have been better spent on?

There are other things our federal government could be better spending their money on.
The list is endless and I am sure you have already thought of a few of its items.

That being said. If space exploration were left to the private sector where it belongs...
The main benefit I see would be to find natural resources that we could use as we seem to be running low here.
Another reason would be to find signs of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe and to try to make contact with said beings.

Do you not realize that space exploration may be the one single factor that will save humanity from total self-annihilation. Exploration of the Universe, it has the potential to unify this world if managed properly.

After all, a peaceful unified world is what everyone wants, right?

I can't explain it... Watch these. I also recommend you watch other things said by these two men.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D05ej8u-…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86BPM1GV…