The space program WAS about getting into space -- to dominate it -- before the Soviets could. It was a political competition on many levels. Only after the space race sort of petered out in the mid 80s, right about the time when the launch of shuttles became "meh" to the news cycle, did the "side effects may include new technologies" spin-offs argument become prominent.

NASA's budget kept getting cut and they needed a way to sell their continuing relevance.