In 1962, the race to the moon was less of a straight line and more of a brawl....

https://www.bravobookmarks.win/in-1962-186-scientists-including-18-nobel-laureates-argued-for-months-over-the

In 1962, the race to the moon was less of a straight line and more of a brawl. While the public cheered for Saturn V, internal memos show engineers clashing over nuclear, electric, and chemical propulsion