WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

USSR Celebrates with Cosmonaut Parades

1. 1969-07-10HIGHDIRECT EFFECTcultural
   USSR Celebrates with Cosmonaut Parades

   Cities across the USSR host grand parades and celebrations honoring Alexei Leonov’s historic achievement. Military units and civilians participate in events celebrating the Soviet space program's global leadership.

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.