Soviet space program was by far advanced and more intensive than that of NASA. The only things impressive in NASA program during the Cold War are Apollo and Viking.
“Soviet space program was by far advanced and more intensive than that of NASA.”
I honestly don’t see in what way. They had a series of stunts. Sputnik was brilliant, as a stunt. Having it fly over, chirping out a signal any American Ham operator could tweak his equipment to receive was brilliant, politically. (Except, possibly, for how it helped spur America into action).
The first man into space and into orbit were achievements, of course, but also stunts. The first woman into space highlights how much more of the latter.
I’d sure like to hear how the Soviet space program was more “intensive” and “advanced” than Apollo, or even what lead to it. When the Soviets finally had a booster, which, on paper at least, was as capable as the Saturn, they couldn’t make it work, even to just launch.
Once past the “stunt” phase, the real “intensive” development was too much for them.
I don’t think that the NASA of today could do Apollo again, either, for what it’s worth.