Yes, and just to remind that a lot of modern devices and technologies we have in all places now came from R&D from space programs: wireless devices, technology that is now used in devices for detection of heart problems came from the water detection devices used by NASA, the current glass lenses manufacturing process, a lot of the modern aviation technology (including runway, the tower and the airplane), and some minor ones, like modern running shoes, infrared thermometer, the foam used in those "NASA pillows", drinking fountain, modern smoke detectors (that don't trigger with false positives), etc.
So it's not "just that scientists want to science".
