One of the important factors of intelligent life in my opinion is curiosity and inquisitiveness. This covers many, many aspects of physical science, social science, arts, history and many other 'ologies;' . The endeavours within the scientic and engineering fields for example are networked around the planet and developments in one area are often picked up and applied in other areas.
Don't believe for a minute that just because some people don't understand space exploration it isn't having a practical affect on our lifes and helping solve these so called 'own problems' - of which there may be many.
The question got raised about smartphones in our hands not existing. True that the average smartphone doesn't communicate directly with satellites but instead use an earthbound celluar network on the first leg. However, much of the functionality of these useful devices does rely on satellite technology, which without getting into space wouldn't exist.
International calls may take hops between satellites; data equally so and if your reading this on whatever device you have then this message has bounced across the atlantic a couple of time - possibly using a satellite link.
Location services rely on the GPS network, so your Sat Nav App, Google Maps, and so on use this network and data from the satellites is received on your phone.
The weather app you may consult gets much of its information from satellites although not directly.
The spin offs from space program development are enormous if you'd care to check.
Just as one example which is close to home. Back in the '60s one NASA research centre was looking for a way to improve safety and comfort in its aircraft - the development was Memory Foam. Many of us here use matresses or toppers based on this development.
And before someone pipes up and says this is hardly a world problem - just do your homework and look at what else has come about due to cross fertilisation of different fields of human endeavour.
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