AH Challenge: Bigger, beefier, cooler Cold War space programs.

With a P.O.D. that can start at 1945, create a scenario where Russia and America are able to launch manned lunar missions, and create a plausible sceanario where they launch their first manned missions to the Moon at the same time.
 
not too difficult.. though it would have to start earlier..

have hitler divide his scientists evenly, the number 1 going to the us, but the number 2 and 3 to russia. the V1 and V2 programs are sent more to the east to forstall the russians with little effect. the russians capture more examples, and the rocket engineers and space programs even out.

Russia still goes up first, but is minutely less capable. so by 1970, they both launch their own missions to the moon. this gives both sides a reason to establish permanent bases on the moon and large space stations.
 
Both sides need to run actual space programs instead of idiot-stunt programs.

IOTL it was just one long series of who gets to the next "first" winding up with an incredibly pointless moon mission by the US.

So. You need a POD where both sides decide that controlling the high ground is of deadly importance. More important than extra nukes or ships or tank divisions.

I think a combination of Project Thor and an increasing emphasis on working ABM (which could have operational in the US by the early 1960s) would have both sides crambling into space, and caring less about surface naval and silo forces Thor could just wipe out anyway in favour of more subs and more space investment.


The Soviets would soon need (by the '70s) better computer tech, the US would need to be able to keep the political will in favour of large space investments.
 
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