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Where's my Transporter? Science Fiction and the Advancement of Science

Every theory and every story start with the same thought: What if _? The job of the scientist and the writer are the same, to fill in the blank and see if the end result works. Neither could fully exist without the other to draw from. The writer needs their audience to, if not believe, at least accept, their science long enough to enjoy the story. I've seen readers shred more than one badly written premise. Science Fiction helps to advance science by opening the mind to possibilities, and science must reach for those possibilites to understand the universe in all it's chaotic order (and give writers something to write about).
Space flight, medical lasers, and robotics, all themes of early sci-fi, are now so commonplace that no one seems to care anymore. The most interest I've seen about NASA in quite some time was over the news that they were bombing the moon. (Yes, they did, though calling it "bombing" is a little sensationalist. They were looking for water, among other things, and although they found a tiny amount, there is more to be found in any of Earth's deserts.) Medical lasers, most notably those for eye surgery, are now normal enough that they are covered by most insurance. As for robotics, they are prevalent in childrens toys, and although there is not (yet) a Rosie the Robot to clean your whole house, you can buy a robot that will vacuum it for you.