Jules Verne is an interesting example, because his books often have themes about traveling more than anything. I feel like at the time (and now!) major projects

Jules Verne is an interesting example, because his books often have themes about traveling more than anything. I feel like at the time (and now!) major projects to just go somewhere were seen as "rich people hobbies". Things are "easier" now for things like mountain climbing but even now most undersea exploration is just financed out of rich people's pockets. In a world where artificial satelites aren't a thing that is a useful good, I doubt that NASA exists.