Critical Thinking Saturday, Week 2

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Welcome to week #2 of our Saturday feature, focused on working through questions that require more than surface-level answers. Each post gives you a chain of connected clues drawn from history, institutions, and patterns that are often overlooked. The idea is to slow down, pay attention to the details, and connect the dots yourself instead of just accepting what’s put in front of you.

Last week’s answers were: Adam Weishaupt, Freemasonry, Skull and Bones, Percy Avery Rockefeller, and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, NY. Congratulations to those who answered correctly!

This week’s challenge is “NASA Origins”. You’re given a chain of clues that build on each other, and each question depends on the one before it. If you miss the first, the rest will lead you off track. No shortcuts! This requires connecting ideas and working through the details. Drop your answers in the comments in order (1-5). The goal isn’t speed, it’s accuracy. Good luck!

Question 1 (Foundation):
Evidence:
• This British figure promoted an esoteric philosophy centered on ritual and symbolism
• He influenced various intellectual circles in the early 20th century
• His writings attracted artists, engineers, and experimental thinkers
• His ideas later reached individuals involved in early rocket experimentation

Question:
Name this British occult figure.

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Question 2 (Expansion):
Evidence:
• The individual from Question 1 influenced a young American rocket enthusiast
• This person helped found a rocket research group in California in the 1930s
• He blended propulsion research with unconventional spiritual interests
• He conducted early rocket testing in the desert

Question:
Name this rocket pioneer.

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Question 3 (Connection):
Evidence:
• A close associate of the individual from Question 2 participated in experimental rituals
• He later developed a belief system combining spirituality and psychology
• He became known for founding a controversial movement
• His early involvement intersected with the same California circle

Question:
Name this individual.

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Question 4 (Technical Expansion):
Evidence:
• During this same era, a European rocket engineer entered the American program
• He previously worked on advanced rocket technology during World War II
• He was brought to the United States under a government program
• He later became central to American space development

Question:
Name this engineer.

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Question 5 (Public Influence):
Evidence:
• The individual from Question 4 worked with a major entertainment figure
• This person helped introduce space travel concepts to the American public
• He produced television specials about rockets and space exploration
• His media influence (still huge today) helped build support for a national space effort

Question:
Name this entertainment figure.

Good luck!