WI: America takes the first images of lunar back side

Pioneer P-1 was set to launch late September 1959, but before it could the rocket launcher without the payload exploded on pad during pre-flight tests.

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pioneer_p1.htm

Suppose in another TL where the failure never happened and P-1 was launched mere days before Luna 3 and photographs the first images of lunar back side, what would be the ramfications then?
 
???
Why would there be any?

Because it wouldn't be "another" Soviet first to rub in America's face?


SpaceMarathon wrote:
Pioneer P-1 was set to launch late September 1959, but before it could the rocket launcher without the payload exploded on pad during pre-flight tests.

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pioneer_p1.htm

Suppose in another TL where the failure never happened and P-1 was launched mere days before Luna 3 and photographs the first images of lunar back side, what would be the ramfications then?

Well considering all three Pioneers failed due to booster issue OTL... Besides there were also previous Pioneer shots:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_program

So we could say any of the early Pioneer shots might have been successful a full year earlier than Luna 1.

But say it succeeds anyway. The Effect? The US has a "first" in the space race to crow about which at the time is no small thing. As I pointed out in the other thread, any little bit helps at this point because the US was feeling the pressure of the Soviets achievements. One 'reason' for an earlier success might be to give the military a 'boosted' reputation for a while if they can actually achieve a Lunar flyby before NASA does as the 'official' Space Program.

Interesting historical article on the US's initial responses to Sputnik here:
AFHistory magazine article: "Go to the Moon instead of just going into orbit"
http://www.afhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2007_spring.pdf

Randy
 
I could see it being a big event ( given the mystic of the Dark Side of the Moon), and publicized as America jumping ahead.
 
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