Space exploration is one of humanities biggest steps in the world of technology. Not only does it symbolize how intellectual of a country we are it also shows a sense power. During that time everyone in the world was trying to get a man to the moon, nations literally spent millions if not billions of dollars and resources and whoever succeeded first was obviously the top dog amongst the other nations. So the reason we spent so much on space exploration was not only to say we were the first nation to get to the moon but also to say we were the  most intellectual,bravest,out going, powerful, and even daring nation in the world too; it was a huge statement of who was really the best.  Without this mark that we left in history we wouldn't be the same nation we are today.