Wonderful story about Columbus, El Greko! LOL!

the negative view of why man went to the moon:

It was done for political prestige. Cold war politics. Had to show that the USA was superior to a bunch of godless Communists!!!

It was done in order to gain a potential military advantage in space. He who can base strategic weapons on the moon and in orbit has a theoretical advantage over he who cannot...or who is less good at it.

the positive view of why man went to the moon:

It is natural that we should wish to explore and understand the Universe around us. Going to the moon was one more great accomplishment in doing that. And there are further such accomplishments to come...not only in space, but in the depths of the ocean, the interior of the Earth, and the depths of the human soul and psyche.

- LH