>But, I'm pretty sure the space programs of the 1950-1980s were innovative because a few optimistic directors got funding to pay rocket scientists to be innovat

>But, I'm pretty sure the space programs of the 1950-1980s were innovative because a few optimistic directors got funding to pay rocket scientists to be innovative. In fact, it's quite possible no rocket would have left Earth if the scientists were optimists. And not that the pessimists thought that if they didn't do it the enemy would be able to lob nuclear missiles at them with impunity?