I think data is only part of the equation. If anything, data
probably comes last. If you want to build anything, first you
need a vision, some intuition, and some sound underlying reasons.
Then you build a prototype. Then you measure and collect data.
If it were data, Einstein would not have come up with his general
relativity. In fact, people were not able to prove his theory
back then because nobody was able to measure time and space.
To demand data or all else is like abdicating your mind. The
world is too complicated for data sometimes. You have to rely
on your tuitions a lot of time.
As going to the moon, I think data probably comes way after
a bunch of people getting together brainstorming throught the night.
Can you imagine one guy stood up and said "I ain't going in that rocket
cause there is no data telling me it won't blow up."
I am sure another guy would say, "But George, we ain't got a
rocket yet so somebody has to go first".