For those of us who care about the affairs of state, giving credit where it’s due is just as important as calling out mistakes and missteps.

Apologists of outer space exploration tout their collective efforts as the supreme manifestation of human rationality: peaceful, non-partisan, inoffensive, and humanistic. But the historical reality is that its institutional origins are largely irrational.

In the midst of the Vietnam War and the struggle for civil rights and a decade scarred by assassinations, Apollo 11 reminded the world—and the American people—that America, while imperfect, is a great and good nation that can do great and good things.

Russia and China are posturing their militaries to defend their interests—and exploit their capabilities—in space. The US should do no less.