I recently reconnected with an old college friend (and a heckuva D&D Dungeon Master) who went on to become an internationally known astrophysicist (retired from NASA) and science fiction author just posted this:
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A Scientist and 2 Engineers Take a Walk
What 20th Century Person Most Influenced Modern Space Travel?
Ken voted Robert Goddard: the man who literally invented the liquid-fueled rocket. Fair.
Jim voted Wernher Von Braun: the man who built the Saturn V and got us to the Moon. Also fair.
I voted Gene Roddenberry: Creator of Star Trek 🖖
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LOL! I'm glad he still has his sense of humor!