[Publius6961]

These include the Soyuz 1 reentry accident that killed cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov in 1967 and the 1971 Soyuz 11 reentry accident that killed three cosmonauts returning after the first long-duration stay on the Salyut 1 space station.

Careful!
This is going to upset that bowling ball who posted the crack that we should be using russian proletariat superior technology because they never had accidents like we do.

*Smirk*

[Paradox]

Given the penchant for Soviet secrecy, their casualty rate might be higher than stated. Check out Lost Cosmonauts.

[jriemer]

The Soyuz 11 accident was caused due a loss of cabin pressure during re-entry. It was not due to a failure of the heat sheilding. It's an Apples and oranges comparison.

[Minutemen]

As I recall,the Russian Soyuz accident in 1971 was the first loss the Russians actually admitted to happening. Supposedly,the Russians suffered many losses of life in space that were completely covered up or denied so as not to discredit the mighty "Red Star"