> Star Wars missile defense project in the 80s which was impossible to fund.

You mean, it was impossible to fund until the achievement of tangible results, multiple projects were funded under that umbrella and many got rich from it, if you ask them, they'd say it was worth it.

Similarly, the people who advocate for this project are among those who'd gain from it, not among those who'd pay for it. Without that crucial difference, their story would be very different.

I was thinking more along the lines of "it is impossible for it to actually work without spending more money that exists in the universe" but you are also correct.