It looks like I have a somewhat jaundiced view of the "moon race". Unlike most others I saw (and still see) it as a way of forcing America's biggest rival Russia into an economic war they were unlikely to win!
The whole ethos of NASA became "lets beat them pesky reds"! I have heard American arms manufacturers toting similar scaremongering tactics ever since in order to bolster their share of the arms race profits.
There is however a new kid on the block in China who will be in a similar position as America to push toward the goal of Mars.


Interesting times indeed!