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Science (space exploration) and the chance to show that the US was the leading nation in terms of rocket technology. This "Space Race" as it was called was important because any nation that could put people on the moon, probably builds effective and accurate missiles. The Russians lost the space race, and for years pretended they were not even trying to go to the Moon. But their Apollo-like gear is displayed in museums now. IIRC they had a thrown-together mission, with one of their huge rockets that liked to blow up on the pad, just waiting to be sent to the Moon in a hurry if Apollo 11 was not successful. Fortunately for any cosmonauts involved, Apollo was successful.

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15y ago

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