Many engineers would be very hesitant to devote their career to an organization that was shrinking/stagnating at all. In the 1960s, NASA was growing and at the

Many engineers would be very hesitant to devote their career to an organization that was shrinking/stagnating at all. In the 1960s, NASA was growing and at the center of the national consciousness. That had to be good for recruiting. Since then, so much else has grown immensely while NASA hasn't. I'm not sold on the lack of competence though. They were just flying around a helicopter on Mars. It mildly amused the public for a couple days, but you could certainly argue it's among the most impressive feats ever accomplished.