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About this quote

What does it mean?
Von Braun identifies gravity and paperwork as major obstacles, noting that technical challenges are easier than administrative ones.
In plain terms
Overcoming bureaucracy is harder than overcoming physical problems in space.
What can you take from it?
Administrative hurdles can be more difficult than technical ones.

Where it applies

  • project management
  • organizational work
  • engineering teams

Putting it to work

  • streamlining processes
  • reducing red tape
  • organizational planning

Questions to consider

  • What administrative tasks slow you down?
  • Is bureaucracy a bigger barrier than technology?

Another view

The joke downplays the difficulty of solving physics problems.

More from Wernher von Braun

  1. There is just one thing I can promise you about the outer-space program- your tax-dollar will go further.

    Permalink to quote #22
  2. With every new answer unfolded, science has consistently discovered at least three new questions.

    Permalink to quote #24
  3. The universe is hostile only when you do not know its laws. To those who know and obey, the universe is friendly.

    Permalink to quote #21

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