The purpose is likely to generate interest in space, and to rebuild the technology the US had to conduct missions there. The average person doesn't care much a

The purpose is likely to generate interest in space, and to rebuild the technology the US had to conduct missions there. The average person doesn't care much about a probe landing on a comet, even if it is extremely impressive technologically. If you can show people walking on a celestial body, the average person can put that into perspective.