Transport nowadays is quicker and more comfortable than it has ever been. But we face huge challenges to keep the mobility we have grown used to at the same time as reducing pollution and avoiding global warming. The UK intends to eliminate diesel and petrol powered cars over the next twenty years, and this will mean a huge amount of Research and Development in electric cars.
Similarly, planes will change to reduce the use of fuels based on oil. The space race now includes private companies rather than governments and they employ many scientists.