The 1962 debate over nuclear vs. chemical vs. electric propulsion was a classic...

https://bizzmarkblog.com/the-tyranny-of-the-scale-why-mass-is-the-only-metric-that-actually-matters/

The 1962 debate over nuclear vs. chemical vs. electric propulsion was a classic grudge match. Before Apollo, experts fought bitterly over how to reach the moon. It wasn't just physics; it was pure ego