Science: A Jarring View: Are the Soviets ahead in space?

Are the Soviets ahead in space?

The Soviet Union has an "almost frightening" ten-year lead over the U.S. in the practical exploitation of space. That is the jarring message of the 1986 edition of Jane's Spaceflight Directory, published in Britain last week. Editor Reginald Turnill's appraisal is based partly on the fact that the Soviets have already launched the Mir space station, possibly the base module for an even larger structure, while it is likely the U.S. space station will not be operational until 1996, at best. "That's the ten-year gap, and this was the case before Challenger exploded," Turnill declares. "One can even argue that it's...

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