Between 1969 and 1972, six lunar modules essentially identical to this one landed a total of 12 American astronauts on the Moon. This lunar module, LM-2, never flew into space. It was built for testing in low Earth orbit, but was actually used on Earth to measure the LM’s ability to withstand the forces of landing on the Moon. It is configured as LM-5, Apollo 11’s lunar module Eagle.
The lunar module also symbolizes the United States’ triumph in the space race with the Soviet Union, part of the competition for technological supremacy and International prestige during the Cold War of 1945-91.