Surprisingly enough, rocket societies around the globe began in the
early 1930s, something that one might think would not have happened
not only because of the bad economy but also the fact that the idea
of flying in space with rockets was associated far more with Buck
Rogers than reality in that era.

On a somewhat related note, the giant main mirror for the 200-inch
Hale telescope meant for Mount Palomar was first made in 1934 in
Corning, New York. As it was shipped across the country by train
to its California destination, throngs of people would mob the train
each time it made a stop. One politican did make some noise at a
rally about how he thought the money to build the telescope mirror
could have been better spent elsewhere, but the crowd quickly booed
him down.

I hope there will be some humanity left in this more jaded era as we
step into this latest man-made economic crisis.