Radio played a powerful and important role in the Great Depression for Americans, since it provided entertainment and a sense of comfort, especially when FDR would give his "fireside chats".
USA was behind in Science and Math. So the federal government dumped massive amounts of money at the high school and college level. Americans so the Cold War heat up in Space. Very far behind.
The first space shuttle had enough capablities to go to Mars.
Mars was the orginal goal!
Moon became the target because USA moved it to so.
Watch Hidden Figures and October Sky for some inspiration.
Basic cause was a dynastic quarrel that originated when the conquest of eñgland
Gerald Ford was appointed to the office of Vice-President after Vice-President Spiro Agnew resigned in the face of a felony charge of tax evasion.
President Richard Nixon appointed Ford as Vice-President to replace Spiro Agnew. Then Ford became President of the United States when Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency when he was facing impeachment over the Watergate scandal.