“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.
They don't have an impetus for going all-out like they used to have. Back then, it was the scary thought of a 'Red Moon' and the possibility (however far-fetched) of eventual world control by the Soviets.
IF the NASA scientists of today had that driving force (or deep-seated fear) behind them, they could pull off amazing things. BUT...the country would have to be behind them, and the people coming into the industry would need to be smart, capable of thinking outside the box...and American.
I am not downplaying the NASA programs but the Soviets had first landing on another planet (not the moon which is a close sattelite) in 1970.
They sent digital imagery from Venus in earlier 1980s. In US you have seen other planets in Star Wars movies at the time.
They had advanced manned space stations and about ten times as many space launches manned included.
Apollo program is the very definition of the dangerous stunt. So is the space shuttle and more so. The death rate for US astronaut per flight was 100 times than that of the Soviet before NASA contracted the Russian flights.