USSR was beating us on every level of rocket technology. Then we built the Saturn V, which was better than any rocket ever built by anyone before or since.
Once we used this unbelievable breakthrough a few times, we destroyed every copy in existence, destroyed all the tools used to build them, and burned all the plans describing how to make them.
That really depends on how you define "better", does it not?
The Saturn V's Rocketdyne F-1 main engines were exactly what they were designed to be - honking great rockets that guzzled fuel and threw out noise, light and plenty of thrust. But they were not efficient compared to what is available today.
The Shuttle's RS-25's still put out plenty of power and they offer almost 50% extra specific impulse.
That said, yes, destroying the plans was utterly idiotic.
Soviets lost the space race because their lead engineer, a Ukrainian man with surname Korolyov, died. He died because of injuries he suffered in labour camp (gulag) where he was sent in 1930s for being a counterrevolutionary.
USSR was beating us on every level of rocket technology. Then we built the Saturn V, which was better than any rocket ever built by anyone before or since.
Once we used this unbelievable breakthrough a few times, we destroyed every copy in existence, destroyed all the tools used to build them, and burned all the plans describing how to make them.
Yeah, that makes sense.
That really depends on how you define "better", does it not?
The Saturn V's Rocketdyne F-1 main engines were exactly what they were designed to be - honking great rockets that guzzled fuel and threw out noise, light and plenty of thrust. But they were not efficient compared to what is available today.
The Shuttle's RS-25's still put out plenty of power and they offer almost 50% extra specific impulse.
That said, yes, destroying the plans was utterly idiotic.
Soviets lost the space race because their lead engineer, a Ukrainian man with surname Korolyov, died. He died because of injuries he suffered in labour camp (gulag) where he was sent in 1930s for being a counterrevolutionary.