Probably there was less popular discontent about the funding of, for example, Brahe's research than there is about space travel today, because, then, less people were aware of what was going on. With increased awareness must go improved education.
A HUGE amount of scientific advancement was achieved by government investment to develop instruments of war.
I trust this is a departure from the logic that says: Space projects are good because they can lead to benefits in terms of scientific development in other areas. I suspect that many of those who would agree with that statement might hesitate to agree if you replaced "space projects" with "war".