European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 28, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sl-6 sl-8 sl-11 sl-14 sl-12 soviet crusade to conquer space National geographic t Hli soviet Union has become Aputi Lanng nation second to none in the Hist 25 years go manned spacecraft Avo soared from tile immense Bai Konur Cosmod Romes in Central Asia their occupants  logged 13 years of space travel in con rail the 55 manned missions a Cal up by Iho United states have resulted in la s5 than five years of space travel the sustained drive to colonize space overshadows a Lar larger unmanned program roaring aloft from Bai Konur and  other s la. Some 90 unmanned Rock cos a year Guc the soviet Union a total launch Rale live limes mat of me United Stales. Behind this immense Mort arc some 600.000 people equal to the u s space Etlor Al its Peak during the mid 1950s they wore supported by a $22 billion budget in 1985, about Iho same As that of the United states but probably double Iho u s commit Lenl in terms of Gross National product like the United slates the Sovil Union has had ils share of acc Idonis and tragedies including the death of Al least live cosmonauts sul nothing has deterred Iho soviets in their crusade to conquer space reported Thomas y Canby in the october National geographic alter each  i role Canby the cautious soviets withdrew into the murky secrecy of their system to Correct their error then emerged to resume a program that in most observers opinions shows tar Grealer consistency than that of their u s. Rivals " compiled after two trips to the Soviel Union and visits to facilities Seldom seen by westerners Canby s report on the soviet space program is one of the most compier Eusivo Ever presented part of the reason Lor the current Success of the Souie i program is the dil Terent Road it has Laken toward the stars the United slates has emphasized development of the shuttle a reusable system of space transportation in contrast the soviets have pursued a manned presence in space Slamons know res Saly uis. And make the trip there and tack in thro away soyuz spacecraft unmanned  freighters or mumbling the Soyu resupply the space stations enabling the soviets to maintain them economically Lor years Mankind s permanence in space May begin with the Mir russian for peace " launched in february 19s6. Iho salyut size Mir boasts improved control and opera hons systems expanded Crew space and most significantly 0 Forward Docking adapter equipped with live polls the Docking adapter on the Mir Saccom Modals robotic modules Aboul As Largo As the station itself like the space freighters the modules can carry fuels cargo and scientific gear Bui they arc also equipped Vilh choir own Uolar Energy systems enabling them to operate independently in company Wilh a space station the modules can serve As astronomical observatories Small mud serial plants for processing alloys and pharmaceuticals or greenhouses or producing food and oxygen in Iho Oman is a powerful new soviet heavy lift rocket comparable to the one tha tilted the u s. Skylab. Ii will carry a Modulo of a Large space station Hal Western observers see replacing salyut anti Mir in a Lew years such a to Osilier would also launch Iho Soviel version of the space shuttle military Sra Sirje actions dominate both the manned sunday december 28. 1986 and unmanned soviet space programs space stations play a definite military role Wilh cosmonaut engaged in visual reconnaissance and development of Sara logic Maler rals writes canny two salyut 3 and 5 were did scaled to military tasks the unmanned military Effort it r