WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

Congress Votes to Increase NASA Funding

1. 1969-07-10HIGHSECONDARY EFFECTeconomic
   Congress Votes to Increase NASA Funding

   Facing public and political pressure, Congress approves a significant budget increase for NASA, including additional funding for Apollo 11 and future missions. The decision reflects growing anxiety over U.S. leadership in space and the broader Cold War context.

2. because
   1969-07-03HIGHDIRECT EFFECTtech
   DIVERGENCE: N1 launch succeeds — Leonov lands on the Moon

   The second N1 launch on July 3, 1969 succeeds instead of exploding. The USSR mounts a crash crewed mission: Alexei Leonov lands on the Moon in the L3 lander in early July 1969, weeks before Apollo 11's scheduled July 16 launch, and returns safely.