What was the importance of getting to the moon first?

Question

I was just wondering; NASA and the U.S. in general thought it was so important to get to the moon which we finally did in 1969. But since then, it seems no longer important. I mean, wouldn't exploring space be much easier if we had constructed a base on the moon by now??

Answer 1

An excellent question Sheila T! First of all, I am not one of those who blindly believe we went to the moon using the Apollo Space Program. There are to many anomolies and unaswered questions regarding the physics of manned space travel. The most important is what the Joint Propulsion Laboratory in Pasedena, California calls the "Galactic Ghoul!" This Ghoul has three elements that impedes us from space travel outside the magnetosphere; the upper most layer of the earth's atmosphere. The first is the highly radioactive Van Allen Belts that surround the earth. Second would be Solar Particle Events (Solar Flares) that are impossible to predict. And third, Galactic Cosmic Radiation that is ever present in the cosmos. The sheilding for the Apollo spacecraft protecting our astronauts is completely inadequate for space travel, let alone their leaving the Lunar Module for space walks on the moon! There are other problems too, such as: Lighting problems on the moon, no blast crater from the LEM, Photographic manipulation, no exhaust from the LEM rockets, the cooling and heating from the astronaut's backpacks, shadows in opposite directions, background terrain the same for some of the Apollo missions, communication manipulations, astronaut's testimonies contradicting each other, NASA's testimonies contradicting each other, no photographs of stars by the astronauts, the flag waving on the moon, film not being effected by radiation, and the moon's general enviornment in the vaccuum of space. Should I go on?

How can not going back to the moon be of no importance during all the intervening years? Keep in mind, why didn't the Soviets try to go to the moon? Remember, that the conquest of the moon was first and foremost the necessary step for the colonization and the decleration as a territory concerning both countries. How can the moon fall off the agendas of both countries regarding the mandates of the cold war? It doesn't make sense, does it? It does if you understand that the cold war perpetuated huge defense spending on behalf of each country. It makes sense when you realize that it was American capitalism that originally financed the formation of the Soviet Union. It makes sense that cooperation between the two super powers could only be maintained at the highest levels of government so that the illusion can be propogated. A good analogy would be, how can you have a CIA without a nemesis like the KGB in order that both are guaranteed the future of their survival? This is pure Hegelian Dialectic; problem - reaction = solution or thesis - antithesis = synthesis. And, money controls both. The space programs of the respective countries are no different. This is not about sovereign governments. This is about the survival of multinational corporations that cross all boundries, regardless of nation states. That is how you keep a secret. This also prevents whistleblowing because it is the money that controls a nation's foreign policy. We are seeing this unfold today with the likes of Hailliburton as an example. Who do you think was contracted to pull the nuclear sub--the Kursk--from its watery grave? Hailliburton! Who as president of Occidental Petroleum (an American company) was flying in and out of Moscow, Russia during the height of the cold war? Armand Hammer! What country in Europe was never bombed or attacked during WWII? Switzerland! This country is where the Bank of International Settlements is headquartered. The Nazis, the English, the French, the Americans and any other bank or corporation (Country) who had a vested interest in war making profits, would meet during the war, and would agree on how to divvy up the profits made after the war! There is even a documentary about this duplicity concerning the BIS narrated by Arthur Kent on the History Channel.

I thought my time spent writing to you would be better served conveying that corpoarations and not governments are the real rulers of nation states. In point, it was the Hudson Company, the Virginia Company and the Massachuessets Company who had set up shop on this continent long before this nation was founded. Now I ask you Sheila T, who controls both the U.S. and Russia's space programs? Just a little food for thought?!

Answer 2

It was not about Space Exploration, it was about Cold War politics.

The U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were in an ideological battle for the world. The USSR had it's allies, the USA had its allies and the rest of the world was sitting on the sidelines waiting to jump in and be on the winning team.

Each side wanted to show that it was going to be the winner. They did this by building ICBMS and large nuclear arsenals. They did this by supporting their allies in wars around the globe, like Korea, Vietnam, or the Middle East. They did this by standing up to each other, like in the Berlin Crisis or the Cuban Misslie Crisis. They did this by giving lots of foriegn aid to poorer nations, and they did this by trying to win the Space Race.

When Russia put up the first Sputnik, and then put the first man in space they could (and did) claim that this showed the superiority of the socialist system. This showed that socialisim worked better than democratic capitalisim, and since that was the case it was pretty obvious that socialisim would win, democratic capitalisim would eventually fall (the way Marx said it would in The Communist Manefestio), so the smart thing to do was become a Communist or a socialist.

Kennedy had to come up with something spectacular the USA could do in space where the USA had a good chance of beating the Russians... just so the USA wouldn't look like a bunch of loosers. The guys at NASA said it just might be possible for us to put a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s, so Kennedy went out in a speach to Congress and pledged that we would do just that.

So the Apollo program wasn't about exploring space. It wasn't about science and it wasn't even about the moon rocks (though having the moon rocks go on tour throughout the world was great P.R.). It was about having an AMERICAN man step onto the moon and put an AMERICAN flag up there, while the whole world watched on TV.

Sure the science was nice, but the REAL pay off came when the astronauts took the moon rocks on tours around the world, and everyone in Europe and Asia and Africa got to see that AMERICA had brough back rocks from the Moon... and the USSR hadn't. This helped build political and popular support for the USA around the world at a time when we really needed it.

And that is what Apollo was REALLY all about. All the space science was just a nice side benefit.

Answer 3

It was important for the U.S. to get to the moon because they had to beat the Soviets during the cold war. The Soviets had already launched the first satellite and man into space, and it was believed that the Soviets were preparing to launch their own rocket to the moon, so this was a big step for the U.s during the cold war.

It's also very hard to build a base on the moon, much easier said than done. There's a lot of planning to it and there are many dangers to think about too (exposure to sun rays, meteorites, etc.)

Answer 4

one million. The moon won't continuously have "confronted us". It most probably grew to become tidally locked over an extended interval of time. two. If the moon "got here from earth", (present thought), it was once nonetheless shaped from a cloud of particles. The final chunks to fall in could have left craters. three. Even if the moon did "face us" over the time while the craters we see now have been shaped, you appear to overlook that during-falling lots could comply with curved paths, and affects could now not be restricted to the some distance part.

Answer 5

National pride is answer that best fits. As for why not go back, it may have to do with finances, or they thought that mars might be more important for now. I have heard that a base on moon is being planned, but do not know how close they are to implementing it.

Answer 6

Yes the challenge to solve the problems the more we advance . One of the most advance is the computer ,and most that we have in the home now are much better that what NASA had on some of the first missions.

Answer 7

A competition with the U.S.S.R.

The height of the cold war.
Both super powers were trying to prove that each was technologicaly superior to the other.
Getting to the moon shows significant technological ability.

Answer 8

Becuase Americans are arrogant. Why else do they want to be first in just about everything.

Answer 9

Hi. Because first place is ALWAYS better. Just ask Buzz Aldrin.

Answer 10

cold war basically