rsf%Pescadero@sri-unix.UUCP (05/23/84)
From: Ross Finlayson <rsf@Pescadero> This is astonishing. I had not been aware of so many failed Soviet attempts, prior to the 3 successful missions. Does "Failed to reach Earth orbit" mean that the module containg the soil samples did not reach Earth orbit after liftoff from the moon, or that the initial liftoff from Earth was unsuccessful? In any case it's interesting to note that any of the first three attempts, had they been successful, would have preceded Apollo 11, and therefore would have upstaged it (to some degree). So it seems that the USSR hadn't totally conceded the 'race to the moon' after all. Ross. ps. I wonder how long we'll have to wait for soil samples from Mars (or even harder, Venus!)? A Mars soil sample return should be feasible with current technology, although not with current levels of funding. If only we could cooperate with the Soviet Union on projects like this.... (dream on)