Want to know something funny, The United States might have almost sent the first satellite to space by accident Look up Operation Plumbbob and the section on the Propulsion of the steel plate cap.
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· 4 years ago
The usa is usually considered the winner of the space race because the ussr effectively gave up there was no way they could top it, the next big target would probably have been a manned mars mission, it would have been way too risky, possibly bordering on impossible with the tech they had and would have been hugely costly (both monetary and potentially in human life too)if they had attempted it
"I believe this nation should commit itself to the goal... of landing a man on the moon, and returning him safely to earth." - President Kennedy
Doesn't matter how many tricks you do on the way if you never cross the finish line.
USA: First Rendezvous of two spacecraft in orbit. First docking of two spacecraft. First to use another spacecraft to achieve higher orbit in space. First docking of two manned spacecraft. First manned mission beyond Low Earth Orbit. First manned orbit of another planetary body. First rendezvous of two manned spacecraft around another planetary body. First docking of two manned spacecraft in orbit of another planetary body.
Sure the USSR had the start, but they then stumbled. Most of the above goals the USSR didn't achieve until long after the USA. And lessons were learned on both sides.
Doesn't matter how many tricks you do on the way if you never cross the finish line.
Sure the USSR had the start, but they then stumbled. Most of the above goals the USSR didn't achieve until long after the USA. And lessons were learned on both sides.