[hutzlibu]

I suppose yes. But maybe it would come later, when the general level of wealth/technology is higher.

Most people want to have a car for themself, before they want to pay for some one else flying to the moon ... So by the time of the real landing ... it might have been approved, too. At least in the US. In the SU they probably would have prefered different things, like toilet paper, first. (there is an old joke in my area in eastern-germany from that time, which pretty much says that ... but its not really translatable)

[pavel_lishin]

> But maybe it would come later, when the general level of wealth/technology is higher.

Sure, that's the whole question. In a place like ye olde Icelande or Ye New Somalia, could the economy develop to the point of a space program being achievable?

[hutzlibu]

I think so. But they don't really have to do it alone.

Even today many nations join forces for space missions. The ISS is the best example. Or CERN. Such big projects just require people who want to do it ... and funding. I think it doesn't really matter if the funding comes from one or a few big pots ... or many small ones (aka crowdfunding)