The value of flight is incalculable. Especially if we see it as a precursor to satellites. A lot of people invested a lot in getting g it to work. Many people died making it better and better. The cost in treasure and lives was substantial, but the return is worth it.

Contrast to the moon. The prestige was great, the investment enormous. The return was more-or-less zero. There was a reason Apollo 18 was canceled, and we stopped going.

(Current efforts are in no rush, and are mostly about prestige.)

The value of a colony on Mars is precisely zero. We might visit a couple times. But colonize? Nope.