Actually, after reading and learning a little more about this stuff, I almost think it's a miracle that we are able to do what we do in space. It's all FAR above my 'pay grade'(as our dear leader would say). Makes me thankful that we have folks out there who are a helluva lot smarter than I am.
It's still hard for me to imagine how we can send a space probe from the surface of our planet on board a rocket into space, in a calculated way that is so precise that it can 'slingshot' around other planets, and reach a predetermined destination planet in the outer Solar System. All the better, they can send us pictures back too!
:’) Thanks KoRn. The old-timers were chosen for their skills; the post-LBJ way is to choose based on utilizations of various demographic bands (a quota system).