What orbital mission focus did the Soviet leadership shift toward after the fourth N1 failure in 1972?
Answer
Long-duration crewed missions using Salyut space stations
By the early 1970s, following the final failure of the N1 rocket in 1972 and acknowledging the clear technological lead held by the US in lunar landings, the Soviet leadership quietly abandoned the immediate goal of reaching the Moon with cosmonauts. To salvage geopolitical standing in space exploration, they redirected national efforts towards excelling in other arenas. Specifically, they chose to prioritize and claim leadership in space endurance through long-duration crewed orbital missions utilizing the Salyut space stations.
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