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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

This is a very interesting site about the Soviet missions to venus...

www.mentallandscape.com/V_Venus.htm

The Soviet Exploration of Venus

The Soviet exploration of Venus, from 1961 to 1984, is the largest effort ever undertaken to study another planet. The fundamentals of interplanetary spacecraft design and remote sensing were first realized in these attempts. Successful missions included 3 atmospheric probes, 10 landings, 4 orbiters, 11 flybys or impacts, and 2 balloon probes of the clouds.

[stargazer]

Joe,

Do you think they could come close to what we have done with our Space Program. I know they have had some mistakes, but with Space Travel that is to be expected. It seems the world knows of our accidents but we dont know about all of the rest of them from the other Countrys. I think they should tell everyione what has happened so we can all learn from each other.

Becky

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

There is substantial evidence that the Soviets had the know- how and technical experience to beat us to the Moon...and beyond. It was for propaganda, but so was the early space race as a whole. A point in fact is that they had the biggest solid rocket booster ever made - ready for a lunar launch, while the USA was in the Apollo 8 mission. When in launch testing, it blew up in Star City, hereby halting the Soviet race to the moon. It never really recovered from that accident.

They built mighty rocket boosters that put out more power than our Saturn 5's and were built to last. If they were not under the heavy suppression of the communist regime, I'm sure the U.S.S.R would have controlled the skies, moon and other points upward.

It is often forgotten that the Soviets were first in many aspects of spaceflight, but thru the then smarts of NASA and administration of the Kennedy doctrine, we prevailed.

Hers a link to the Soviet N-1 rocket booster:

www.astronautix.com/articles/thepart1.htm

But I'm glad they did not succeed, 'cause I don't look good in red.