What strategic focus did the Soviet Union pivot towards after losing the Moon race?
Answer
Proving mastery in sustained orbital operations
Once the Soviet leadership recognized they were falling behind the American Apollo program in the race to land humans on the Moon, they made a pragmatic political calculation to redirect resources. Instead of pouring failing resources into a lunar landing they likely could not achieve quickly, they shifted focus to long-term space presence. This strategy prioritized achieving mastery in sustained orbital operations, which eventually led to the successful development of the Salyut program and the legendary Mir space station, establishing a lasting legacy in long-duration human spaceflight infrastructure.

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