Passage Summary: Critics argue that if we can go to space, we should be able to fix society. The author disagrees, claiming that rocket science is actually easier than understanding people, and we can't fix society until we understand people.

Conclusion: The social critics' claim that the government has misplaced priorities is incorrect.

Reasoning: Rocket technology is less complex than the human psyche, and solving social problems requires an understanding of the human psyche that we currently lack.

Analysis: The specific statement functions as a premise that directly challenges the critics' underlying assumption. The critics assume space travel is the harder task; the author uses this statement to assert the opposite—that social problems are actually the more complex challenge. By establishing this point, the author supports the main conclusion that the critics' comparison is unfair and their judgment of the government is misplaced. It is a piece of evidence used to refute a counterargument.