I think you might be right, sadly.
Nuclear-thermal rocket engines have epic thrust-to-weight. But were benched in the 70s for political reasons. I'm hoping Elon can find a way to get them legalized again. Makes so much economic and technical sense, even if you have to launch from Madagascar...
I don't think it was political. Likely physical infeasibility. Doesn't make any difference to us, cause we aren't flying into space any time soon. Even high altitude balloon projects stalled.
So instead you get an Internet pager and you can complain about rising prices and politicians. In a world like this, habitual drug users are the rational ones.
