But Americans were hopeful. If the plan succeeded, it would be the greatest space act since manned flights began.
VOA: special.2009.06.24
From the founding through the beginning of the twentieth century, government kept Americans free to create, innovate, and compete, to keep the results if they succeeded, and to try again if they failed.
If the gift succeeded - if the queen liked it and wore it - it had fulfilled its function of winning the queen's favour and confirming the giver's devotion and loyalty.