Who won the Space Race? Community poll

[Piwa]

Wernher von Braun won the space race alone!

You're delusional, Queens winner, Sputnik 1, the first living creature in space, the first man in space, the first woman in space, first spacewalk, there is much to list here's a link

http://space.hobby.ru/korolev.html

[MBobrik]

Voted 'other' because both lost. US all but gave up its manned program and Russia is stuck with ferrying goods to the ISS till NASA and ESA are paying the bill and doing little more than that. While the ISS itself is more and more seen as an useless boondoggle that needs to be get rid of asap.

Edited September 16, 2013 by MBobrik

[sephirotic]

Just as some people said before, about interplanetary exploration, NASA is by far the leader, hands down. it's a shame their budget had been reduced so much lately.

However, i still think USSR has more merit in the old era (before 1991) than usa.

Pic strongly related bellow:

However, it wasn´t without it's flaws and embarrassments either, the N-1 was a major embarrassing failure we all know about.

It's a shame that we lost buran and energia by the end of the USSR. The buran has several designs improvements very interesting comparing to the space shuttle, like the ability of being launched unnamed, better payload capacity to higher orbits, didn´t carry main engines into orbit, (with in practice was a very inneficient and bad design for the shuttle, highly criticized in the earlier development stages) and even had ejection seats! The energia platform itself was exceptional, the buran was just one of the various possibilities and profiles for it.

Another important consideration is the fact that even tough the Soviet Union was remarkable as producing less reliable engineering goods, much more people died in the American Space Program than in the USSRs, witch is a very important factor to consider.

One may say that the Space Shuttle was highly successful by "Only" having 2 failures in 135 missions. However, 2 failures represents 50% of vessels constructed and 14 deaths, more than double of those died in all the history of Soyuz-variants, the oldest most launched manned space vehicle of history.

Edited September 16, 2013 by sephirotic

[Skyrunner27]

One may say that the Space Shuttle was highly successful by "Only" having 2 failures in 135 missions. However, 2 failures represents 50% of vessels constructed and 14 deaths, more than double of those died in all the history of Soyuz-variants, the oldest most launched manned space vehicle of history.

How is two accidents 50% of the vessels built. There were 5 orbiters capable of orbital flight 1 orbiter that would need major overhaul but could fly in atmosphere. Colombia and Challenger were destroyed. Challenger IIRC was not the fault to the shuttle itself but from the launch system. Columbia was truly the fault of the orbiter. Soyuz also had two failures including the only fatalities in space. The people argument is a none argument. Because the shuttle could carry more people it killed more people.

[Camacha]

If we are talking about manned missions, I'd say Russia currently takes the lead. They developed and have kept on developing Soyuz into a very reliable solution. The US shuttles aged until the point where they were no longer deemed safe (remember they purchased old chips to keep the stuff going) and got retired. The modern Soyuz, however, can not be compared to the original version and this is its strength. Of course, this is also the nature of a rocket when compared to a shuttle, but they take the cake. Historically it is a little bit harder, but there is no denying that the USSR did a lot of stuff first. Though the US put the first man on the moon, I feel the Russians did more relevant things first.

When it comes to unmanned mission, the Russians started off strong. It can't be denied that NASA has excecuted pretty much every recent interesting mission, but I keep on being suprised by the stuff the Russians pulled off or tried to pull off. They sent whole fleets of landers and probes to Venus and other bodies. NASA currently leads the unmanned categorie hands down with several space probes and planetary landers, although it will be interesting what the Chinese will do in the near future.

That being said, winning a race means finishing it. I feel it has only just started. The sad thing is that there is very little funding nowadays. If we could just stop distrusting each other we could spend the billions that go into PRISM and other programs on exploring and watching the universe, instead of on finding out what porn my neighbour is watching.

(Funny how opinions here seem to be largely biassed according to country of origin.)

Edited September 17, 2013 by Camacha

[czokletmuss]

(Funny how opinions here seem to be largely biassed according to country of origin.)

Yeah, aren't they? For both Americans and Russians these achievements are still a big source of national pride, especially for the folks interested in space exploration and these are the majority of KSP players. I wonder if I could be objective if I was born in either of these countries.

[Nibb31]

The "Space Race" is like the "Cold War" or the "War on Terror". They are rhetorical formulas that are void of meaning. You can't win a "War on Drugs" or a "Race to Space" unless everyone agrees on where the goalposts are beforehand.

[briansun1]

USSR just because they can go to space and the USA has to ask russia(a large part of the USSR) to take them to space

[Rickenbacker]

We all lost, because they STOPPED GOING THERE, dammit.

[hugix]

USSR just because they can go to space and the USA has to ask russia(a large part of the USSR) to take them to space

To be fair, the only place in LEO is the ISS. Which is more NASA than Roskosmos...

[Camacha]

We all lost, because they STOPPED GOING THERE, dammit.

I tend to agree with this one. If we would just spend our money on stuff like this instead of on useless spy programs humanity would be much better off.

Yeah, aren't they? For both Americans and Russians these achievements are still a big source of national pride, especially for the folks interested in space exploration and these are the majority of KSP players. I wonder if I could be objective if I was born in either of these countries.

Well, it is funny. On one hand I kind of feel the same about some things my country is known for, on the other hand I think it is silly to be proud of things you were not part of, did not contribute to and often even happened before you were born. If you could really make a valid claim to things that way that would mean you are also responsible for horrible crimes perpetrated by previous (or current) generations (for example slavery and atomic weapons for the US and communist surpression and mass murder for Russia/USSR).

[zzz]

Need to mention - USSR is no longer exist. Russia is a different country, even ifit is not very obvious. It has some very shaky period and didn't have same passion to space as USSR has.

So If we take the poll literally - race is over and USA has a technical victory because USSR died on the way.

Edited September 17, 2013 by zzz

[StainX]

And the winner is: humankind!

[th3shameless]

north korea becuase they can in to space and they are of best korea and superior to western technology and they are best korea-*breathes*-so they win space race by default long live the dprk rest in peace comrade kil il sung you have built a strong nation whose space technology surpasses the evil west-*inhales*-

Okay I'm done now.

[Kulebron]

I didn't spend much time looking, but I was unable to locate a single non-US space mission which successfully left the Earth's SOI and travelled to any other location in our system...or recently, out of entirely.

So spend time. Most Venus landers were Soviet.

[Wahgineer]

USA. Why? Sure, they lagged behind, but in the end, they came out on top. Want to counter that? Well: U.S.S.R. didn't even get their moon rocket to leave the atmosphere, while the USA never had a problem with any of the Saturn Vs (Apollo 1 wasn't using a Saturn V, and the Apollo 13 incident was a result of the CSM, not the Saturn V). Also, on a side note, the US rocket was bigger. So much for Russia doing everything big. Finally, the last time I checked, the US is still in existence. So, the US has a double win: they (actually) got to the moon 1st and are still in existence.

[Wahgineer]

On one hand I kind of feel the same about some things my country is known for, on the other hand I think it is silly to be proud of things you were not part of, did not contribute to and often even happened before you were born.

My Great Grandmother worked on the wiring for the computers in the command module that was used in the Apollo 11 mission. No I didn't contribute directly, but I'm still proud my family had a part in a major event in history. Also, you're basically saying that everyone who didn't work at/for NASA at the time shouldn't be proud that the US put a man on the moon. It's like saying my uncle shouldn't be proud of me for getting a college degree just because he didn't help me get one.

[Mr Shifty]

U.S.S.R. didn't even get their moon rocket to leave the atmosphere, while the USA never had a problem with any of the Saturn Vs

Current state of the F-1 engines not used for Saturn V launches:

Current state of the NK-33 engines not used for N-1 launches:

[BostLabs]

Who says the race is over?

There is many, many light years to go.

[Wahgineer]

Actually, the F-1 engines are being reviewed for use (design wise) in the SLS. Also, I meant the rocket vehicle, not the rocket engine.

Fun Fact: the Saturn V was the strongest, biggest, and heaviest rocket ever built. Not even the Falcon Heavy comes close.

[Camacha]

My Great Grandmother worked on the wiring for the computers in the command module that was used in the Apollo 11 mission. No I didn't contribute directly, but I'm still proud my family had a part in a major event in history. Also, you're basically saying that everyone who didn't work at/for NASA at the time shouldn't be proud that the US put a man on the moon. It's like saying my uncle shouldn't be proud of me for getting a college degree just because he didn't help me get one.

You get the point exactly. Appreciating the achievement because it takes a lot of hard work and dedication is logical, but appreciating something more because the folks doing it were physically closer to you than some other folks doing equally impressive work is just silly. Even the location thing doesn´t pan out, because you are still seperated by quite some time (so you were never physically close) and some parts of the USA are a lot closer to Russia/the USSR than to the parts where the work was carried out.

The old chauvinist attitude towards your own country is really not working in today's ultra connected world anymore.

[Camacha]

So spend time. Most Venus landers were Soviet.

Their program was crazily ambitious and impressive.

[Hodo]

While I voted for the USSR, as they did get into space first. With both a man made orbiter, and a manned orbiter, oh and not to forget a dog. While the US lagged behind in getting a satellite, man and even a chimp into space. The USA did ultimately catch up through massive amounts of spending, something the USA is good at, and good old fashioned hard work, something the USA used to be good at. But now, with both space programs on the brink, it saddens me to think that the shuttle is dead, the USA is back to using rockets and no further government funding to make something better, and the turn to the private sector in the hopes that they would pick up the mantle where the government has left off.

[Wahgineer]

appreciating something more because the folks doing it were physically closer to you than some other folks doing equally impressive work is just silly. Even the location thing doesn´t pan out, because you are still seperated by quite some time (so you were never physically close)

1. No, its not silly to like something more just because your physically close to someone who partook in it.

2.My Great Grandmother moved to New York afterwards (don't know when). I saw her countless times before she died at the age of 94. I remember hugging her when it was time for my family and I to head back home. I have a certificate from NASA that commends her for her work. The main reason I play KSP is because I love space and space travel. I love space/space travel because I heard of what my Great Grandmother did.

To assume that my Great Grandmother and I were not physically close just because "the location thing doesn't pan out" is very inconsiderate of the fact that I actually know the facts pertaining to my family history.

[M.Wolfy]

USA. Why? Sure, they lagged behind, but in the end, they came out on top. Want to counter that? Well: U.S.S.R. didn't even get their moon rocket to leave the atmosphere, while the USA never had a problem with any of the Saturn Vs (Apollo 1 wasn't using a Saturn V, and the Apollo 13 incident was a result of the CSM, not the Saturn V). Also, on a side note, the US rocket was bigger. So much for Russia doing everything big. Finally, the last time I checked, the US is still in existence. So, the US has a double win: they (actually) got to the moon 1st and are still in existence.

i think people forget to make their points clear.

USSR got to the moon first actually...

And this is about the space race, not exsitence, also the USA uses a soviet launch vehicle to send Soyuzs up (which was also soviet) so without the soviet union, the U.S would probably still be using the old Saturn 1B.

More points I'm going to make:

USSR got the

First ICBM (R-7 Semyorka)

First artifical sattelite into orbit (Sputnik 1)

First living thing to orbit (Laika)

First human to orbit (Yuri Gagarin)

First flyby of the moon (Luna 1 [it failed to hit the moon so flyby instead ])

First object to get to the moon (Luna 2)

First landing on the moon (Luna 9)

First orbit of the moon (Luna 10)

First flyby and return to earth from the moon (Zond 5 [it also had some animals in it ])

First Rover to the moon (Lunokhod 1)

First thing to enter the atmosphere of another planet (Venera 3)

First lander to mars (Mars 3)

First lander to venus (Venera 7)

First space station (Salyut 1)

Edited September 25, 2013 by M.Wolfy