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It wasn't just national prestige, it was a component of the arms race that defined all geopolitical relations in that era.
by standardUser 3y ago
It wasn't just national prestige, it was a component of the arms race that defined all geopolitical relations in that era.
- transcriptase 3y agoSo few people seem to realize that the point of many of these technological/societal achievements wasn’t necessarily the deliverable itself, but the development and implication of capabilities required to achieve them. In simple terms, it was sending a global message: “If our propulsion and guidance technology can put people on the moon, imagine what else would be trivial for us?”
- cubefox 3y agoThe US was already far ahead in their military capabilities. Landing on the moon first or second would change nothing about this.
- standardUser 3y agoThe US was behind the USSR on space technology at the start of the 1960's and had no idea how far behind they might be. By elevating the space program Kennedy (et al.) closed the gap, got ahead and stayed ahead.