Despite his many public activities, he never became a great public figure in the way of many inventors, perhaps because theoretical aerodynamics is not a very accessible field to the layman; nevertheless, his work in that field and in rocket research has helped shape both scientific and political history.
Sa kabila ng kanyang maraming mga pampublikong gawain, hindi siya naging isang mahusay na pampublikong pigura sa paraan ng maraming mga inventors, marahil dahil panteorya aerodynamics ay hindi isang tunay na larangan upang mapuntahan ang mga karaniwang tao; gayon pa man, sa kanyang trabaho na field at sa rocket pananaliksik ay nakatulong sa hugis ng parehong pang-agham at pampulitikang kasaysayan.