It is indeed.
Obviously no one wants a rocket to blow up. But the idea is if it should, they will have hoovered so much data from the exercise that they can improve the next one.
There is a reason the UK had fuck all chance in the space race. We simply could not afford that intense period of fund-heavy development. Not when you have an Empire to cling on to anyway.
It breaks my heart, but when everyone was fucking off to the US from Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries they stole our soul in a way. With the sheer audacity of the great Victorian "we-don't know the meaning of the word can't" projects ending in an unbuilt railway that goes nowhere at familiar speeds and enormous expense. Meanwhile, a casual tour of the US reveals a nation that simply didn't get the memo about "can" and "can'".
I mean put a man on the moon for fucks sake. Repeatedly. Do you really think Russia, and China would not have done it too; if they could ?
Regrets ? I should have taken that job our of Uni working for company that was part of the ESA. Oh well, next time around.