What was the economic imperative to build a ship to cross the Atlantic? Why send humans to their death out into some unknown massive ocean? Why get together funding for that?
At the time, we had ships that floated on the ocean.
The space race's initial run was motivated by national pride and defense. The costs to keep it up have been high, which is why SpaceX's approach at reducing fixed pre-launch costs have found success.
(His being in complete control over the mechanism required to immigrate helps shape that direct democracy, too.)
On the other hand we managed to end up with a suspiciously high number of communist dictatorships, which is equally contradictory, so who knows.
[1]: yes, I know the “state” was “a bit” different in that early modern world, but still Columbus would not have done that thanks to market forces alone.
I was replying to a very insightful comment saying "Why would anyone build a rocket??"
> What would have been the economic imperative that would have jump started the development of rockets in the first place?
With this one:
> What was the economic imperative to build a ship to cross the Atlantic?
How is it “not commenting on state or market force”?