answersLogoWhite

0

Prestige. The chance to show you're ahead of the other guy. Also, by landing on but not claiming title to the Moon, the USA could prevent the USSR from landing and staking a valid legal claim of ownership. As the flag was planted by Apollo 11, an announcement was made, in every nation's Apollo feed except the USA, that the flag planting was symbolic of accomplishment in exploration, not a claim of ownership. They didn't read it in the USA as they wanted the American people to sort of have the idea that the Moon belonged to them, without actually lying and saying so.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?