Neil Gerace wrote:

Personally I'd like to see the space industry follow the rail and car
industries' lead and put the engines at the front.


When I was playing around with that hypothetical solid-fueled ICBM that
would cloak itself in its own smoke to prevent it being hit by a laser
during ascent, that's how it was going to work. The first stage would be
on top with its nozzles at the front end angled outwards, and the second
and third stages would be under it, with the warhead at the bottom.
Some early rocket designs followed the front motor placement, including
Goddard's first liquid-fueled one.

Pat