"Each of these first rockets was like a beloved woman for us," he said. "We were in love with every rocket, we desperately wanted it to blast off successfully. We would give our hearts and souls to see it flying."
This very rational exuberance, and Korolyov's determination, were the key to Sputnik's success.
Maybe the word "rational" no longer means "influenced by reasoning rather than by emotion".
Watch out for the potholes.
