• @Telodzrum@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      21 year ago

      I wouldn’t say “losing” they never really have them. Anyone bright and educated enough to be a scientist flees at the very first opportunity. It’s not just the higher-level intellects, either; they have a dearth of even engineers capable basic tasks, It’s the main reason that their tanks are built worse than the average Jaguar from the '80s.

      • @Hikermick@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        11 year ago

        Haven’t the Russians historically been very successful with their space program though? Don’t forget the US relied solely on them for resupplying the ISS after the ending of the Space shuttle program until Space X. Also they had their own space stations like Mir long before the ISS. I thought that’s why the US partnered with them as they had more experience

        • @Telodzrum@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          11 year ago

          Not really, no. “Initially very successful” would be accurate, though. Following that, they were more of a “good enough” situation. The reliance on them after the retirement of the shuttle was seen as a “any port in a storm” situation and was one that no one was completely comfortable with.