Your comment was dead when I got to it - I disagree with your words but vouched because I think being skeptical is valuable (terms and conditions may apply, etc).
I can't personally attest to this but another commenter mentioned that this was what the soviets did as part of a space race with a smaller budget.
You should note that success rate is crucial once you are in production and ready to go - judging overall success against that bar while developing and testing is nonsense.
Finally - I think everyone learns faster by trying more things and making more mistakes? I wouldnt blame you for wanting to see that studied - kind of a neat question after all - but it seems like you are assuming one method or another was picked because it was superior as opposed to a reality of material constraints.
I feel like if NASA had budget for blowing up more rockets to prove/disprove points that they would be doing so. Actually now that I say it out loud I can't imagine anyone choosing 'not rocket'.
I can't personally attest to this but another commenter mentioned that this was what the soviets did as part of a space race with a smaller budget.
You should note that success rate is crucial once you are in production and ready to go - judging overall success against that bar while developing and testing is nonsense.
Finally - I think everyone learns faster by trying more things and making more mistakes? I wouldnt blame you for wanting to see that studied - kind of a neat question after all - but it seems like you are assuming one method or another was picked because it was superior as opposed to a reality of material constraints.
I feel like if NASA had budget for blowing up more rockets to prove/disprove points that they would be doing so. Actually now that I say it out loud I can't imagine anyone choosing 'not rocket'.