What costs more than space exploration? Astrology.
What costs more than space exploration? Astrology.
According to research done by Telefono Antiplagio, described by the TelegraphAndas “an Italian voluntary service that helps the victims of con artists,” and the European Consumer Organisation, Italian citizens spent a total of €6 billion on magic and occult services—primarily astrology—in 2010.
As reported by Space News, the budget for the Italian Space Agency in 2010 was about €700 million. That sum included the €385 million Italy contributed to the European Space Agency that year for all kinds of activities, including the training of Italian astronauts Luca Parmitano, Samantha Cristoforetti, and Paolo Nespoli. A large part of the remaining funding went to development of the Vega launch vehicle.
Many thanks to reader Mark Booth, who suggested the astrology aspect and provided a good source.
(Photo: “Personification of Astrology” by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, and official portrait of Luca Parmitano.)