X-Message-Number: 19204 References: <> Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 22:07:44 +0200 From: David Stodolsky <> Subject: Re: CryoNet #19195 - #19201 At 9:00 AM +0000 2002-06-04, CryoNet wrote: >There is an obvious comparison, here, between the US and Soviet space >programs in the 1960s. The US program was fully revealed, including all >errors and disasters. The Soviets only announced their successes. History >suggests that the US did not suffer from its policy in the long term. The Soviet space program produced more hours in space and less deaths. A European astronaut who spoke here recently stated these facts and concluded, that as far as he was concerned, the Soviet space program was superior. He had no comment, with regard to the failure to launch ISS near Mir, except to note that Mir had some new modules. Others have commented that the failure was a deliberate PR maneuver, disgarding modules and solar cells that had cost billions to put into orbit. Thus, one is tempted to conclude that the "openness" of the US space program has been more apparent than real. Since the core module of the ISS is based upon Soviet technology, it was, at least at the factory, called Mir II. dss -- David S. Stodolsky, PhD PGP: 0x35490763 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=19204