Fascinating thread.
The amount of scientific knowledge arising from NASA and other space/astronomy projects is incalculable. Much of the technology we rely on today in multiple fields spanning everything from computer technology right through to medicine along with a better understanding of our own planet’s ecosystem, environment and climate was born from this research. Rather different in scope than selling grotesquely overpriced steampunk bling-fi to a tiny handful of oligarchs!
NASA is mankind’s greatest achievement IMO. It’s between that and Bach/Miles Davis.
I beg to differ...
It was Fleming and "Lee De Forest" with the introduction of the third electrode added to use as a "Control Grid" inside an evacuated glass valve light bulb to prevent / attract away the soot burning off the light bulbs filament, that caused a darkening / coating the inside of the evacuated glass envelope and accidently created the Triode and with it the Diode.
From then on started the Electronic Communication Industry.
The first ever possible control of the free flow of Electrons.
Secondly, it was the 1951 discovery / invention of "William Shockley" and the use of Semi-conductors "Germanium Transistors."
William Shockley - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
The "Cat Whisker," clever fellow, imho.
Then NASA, that was only possible because of the two previous World changing events via Fleming and then later Shockley.
Back on topic, the best sounding tone arm to date to my ears was the Decca Unipivot c/w the magnetic bias clipped on to the tone arms pillar, the tone arm was fitted with a Decca SC4E.
All of which was mounted on a Garrard 401, flush strobe light version, mounted on a quarter inch thick cast iron slab, cut outs to fit in the 401, no plinth just a massive motor board, I wish I still had it.