On The Soviet Space Program

At one point, the Soviet economy had such fast paced growth that it led Khrushchev to say: When we catch up and pass you by, we'll wave to you. However, the growth came at heavy human cost. People were constructing nuclear plants wheeling materials in wheel barrows and freezing to death.

There have been a lot of pieces on the Soviet space program to commemorate the anniversary of Gagarin's trip to space. I cam across several pieces that show the makeshift nature of the space program - something that was characteristic of the entire Soviet system: Slapdash and inconsiderate of human cost.

This Cracked article lists a few crazy things the Soviets did, including sending up stray dogs, possibly sending up and not bringing back some cosmonauts, and sending Komarov to a certain death.

This NPR article expands on Komarov's death. You can even listen to his last words.

I was actually more angered by Laika's death, but it is sickening how regimes take advantage of silly ideas like political beliefs, patriotism, heroism, etc.