They sent their cosmonauts up in rockets that everyone knew full well were faulty, but people were scared to raise any kind alarm. When the ship flamed out, it was a surprise to no one, not even the guy piloting. In fact, he volunteered for the mission because if he didn't go, they would have sent his good friend Yuri Gargarin up instead. Even someone as esteemed as Gargarin was not immune from being sacrificed if it meant giving the Reds even one extra squirt in their Cold War pissing match with America.