From what I understand, Wernher von Braun was kicking the Saturn family rocket design around since at least Juno I launched in early 58,
Don’t forget: a large chunk of American economic and manufacturing capacity was behind the Apollo program. It was a core project to show the world that free people can not just equal, but better, the accomplishments of those Communism enslaved. We spent like we meant it, because we did.
Now? Beating China is a theoretical given, and lunar development makes for a slowly stretched out contractor pork-a-palooza. If/when China puts a man on the moon, then it’s back to being a core priority, because only then is it an existential threat.
The LIB lunatics say we’ll all be dead in 11 1/2 years...so, who gives a rat’s a** about anything? Party ON!!!