The entire Soviet space program was an unsustainable exercise in political showmanship, and 'Me first!' moments.
Consider the visiting cosmonaut program, the first woman in space (Who was also the... last woman in space, for the subsequent two decades.)
Consider the secrecy surrounding launches (To avoid getting egg on your face, if the mission fails/is aborted...)
Fortunately (Or unfortunately), if it weren't for political showmanship, neither country would have had a space program.
The entire Soviet space program was an unsustainable exercise in political showmanship, and 'Me first!' moments.
Consider the visiting cosmonaut program, the first woman in space (Who was also the... last woman in space, for the subsequent two decades.)
Consider the secrecy surrounding launches (To avoid getting egg on your face, if the mission fails/is aborted...)
Fortunately (Or unfortunately), if it weren't for political showmanship, neither country would have had a space program.