brody@eos.UUCP (Adam Brody) (09/27/89)
There was an interesting letter from K. Gringauz, Chief Scientist, Space Research Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR in the July/August issue of The Planetary Report. He complains that the aerospace contractors in his country dictate to their Academy of Sciences the configuration of spacecraft with a take it or leave it attitude without any concern for the success of the mission. He says, "In the USA the budget and the programs for space research are publicly examined and voted on by the Congress. It would be wonderful if such asystem were introduced by the new Supreme Soviet of the USSR which will be elected this year." Noting their far greater launch activity and the fact that they have completed their eighth space station while our Congress has been struggling for years to locate the money to fund our second, I would have guessed that their politico-economic system enabled a more productive space program.