The things is, that if you want to, for example go to another planet, you will need knowledge from ALL of the uppermentioned science branches.
Those guys which are fanatics and want to solve something because they want to show the world they are better (not because humanity needs their research) are also nececary, because we did some of our biggest achievements just because someone said: "We can't let them be better!" Want example? Moon landing. Typical race between USSR and USA. Russians first put human in space, so what does America do? Puts human on the moon.
That is how we, humans, work. Without competition there will never be success. I am one of those ppl, who will try to do something till it is done. And I won't quit until I do it. All of us surely had some situation like that. But we aren't focusing on same thing. Those ppl who you mentioned, are focused on math problems, so you can't blame them for wanting to solve them so badly
- You need computers, to pilot the spaceship, and control everything.
- You need obvously physics, maths and astronomy, to calculate paths and orbits, speed of certain objects in space so you don't collide with them etc etc.
- You need chemistry, to find best materials to build your ship so it won't use much fuel or even artificially make materials strong on micro levels.
- You need enginners to put the ship parts together etc.
Those guys which are fanatics and want to solve something because they want to show the world they are better (not because humanity needs their research) are also nececary, because we did some of our biggest achievements just because someone said: "We can't let them be better!" Want example? Moon landing. Typical race between USSR and USA. Russians first put human in space, so what does America do? Puts human on the moon.
That is how we, humans, work. Without competition there will never be success. I am one of those ppl, who will try to do something till it is done. And I won't quit until I do it. All of us surely had some situation like that. But we aren't focusing on same thing. Those ppl who you mentioned, are focused on math problems, so you can't blame them for wanting to solve them so badly