[LZ_Bayonet]

Sounds like they “awakened a sleeping giant” into a development surge that they couldn’t match, especially from a cost perspective.

[Stoat]

Sounds like they “awakened a sleeping giant” into a development surge that they couldn’t match, especially from a cost perspective.

And thank goodness they did......from the article:

As described by the former scientists, the world's first orbiter was born out of a very different Soviet program: the frantic development of a rocket capable of striking the United States with a hydrogen bomb.

Because there was no telling how heavy the warhead would be, its R-7 ballistic missile was built with thrust to spare — "much more powerful than anything the Americans had," Georgy Grechko, a rocket engineer and cosmonaut, told AP.

The Leftist apologists and appeasers would have been delighted if we had grabbed our ankles after Sputnik and had believed their lies about how the Soviets were no threat and they wanted only to be our friends....the Commies were ready, willing and able to turn American cities into a radioactive wasteland.

Remember when Khrushchev said "We will bury you!" ?

He meant it.