Von Braun to the USSR...

[ambrous]

How would the space race have differed if Von Braun had been captured by the Soviets and not come to the USA?

 

[commander_keen]

The Soviet Union would still have collapsed but they would have had a nice trophy of moon rocks on their walls as consolidation.

 

[rogers_buck]

The Russians problem was Korolov died, they likely didn't need him. The US did need him, however. If the US managed to get in the race at all, they would have been much behind. The N-1 wouldn't have been cut in mid-development and ultimately would have flown to the moon. That's my theory anyway.

 

[vogon13]

Died in a gulag from pneumonia, working as a zek, circa 1953.<br /><br />That time line really sucked. This one is bad enough as it is, but not as bad as that one. Damn lucky to have wound up here after the NorComWel collapse and the Saharan uprising. Weird having so few of the Kennedy boys alive, though.<br /><br />God, I miss cherry Tang. <br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[quasar2]

i`m wondering if had the Russians had ever gotten to The Moon, there would be more there & in Space in general. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[flynn]

I think he would of probably died in a gulag as well. I thinkwith Korolev the Russian space program wouldn't of been remarkably different, its more a case of were would America be? Would they of found other means to the moon? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

The thing I find 'interesting' about the whole von Braun issue is that, if the USA had had it's own band of half decent 'rocket guys', they probably would have been looking to line him up against the wall as a war criminal.<br /><br />But, such is the ethereal relationship between necessity and perspective. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[flynn]

I don't think the picture would be that dark without Von Braun, someone would of "stepped up to the plate", the moonshot may not of been posible but as a result America could of come out of the cold war with a better balanced space program. Instead of going to the moon they might of worked more on the backup infrastructure that could of made going back to the moon so much easier now. There is no need to think that just because USSR gets Von Braun they will make it to the moon. Korolev would of had just as much chance, the truth is Russia couldn't afford a moon program. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

As a matter of fact the USSR did have the resources for such a program. They basically left their run too late, not seriously beginning on their manned lunar program until 1964.<br /><br />I suggest that WVB would have received much the same treatment as the 234 plus other Germans who ended up in the Soviet Union. Like them he would have been put to work on various projects. This would have initially involved assembly and flying captured hardware,<br />documenting and in some cases developing the German state of the art and later acting a specific technical consultants on key issues. They were never integrated into the main rocket program of the USSR, unlike those who went to the US. Once his expertise was stale he would have been returned to either West or East Germany, probably between 1951 and 1957, as happened to all the other Germans. Helmut Groettrup was the most senior German who went to the USSR (returned 1953). <br /><br />So had WVB ended up in the USSR he would have probably been considered a less influential figure than he is currently. Just another ex-Nazi specialist that provided useful information to the USSR.<br /><br /><br />What impact this would have had on going to the moon is anybody’s guess. Without WVB, I don’t think the US would have been advanced enough for Kennedy to have been in a position to commit to Apollo. Without this commitment, Soviet plans for the moon may never have been put into action.<br /><br />http://astronautix.com/articles/gerspora.htm<br /><br />http://astronautix.com/lvfam/earsiles.htm<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[frodo1008]

Actually had we continued following VWB's ideas we would have had a more balanced space program. Also, had congress and the then presidents been more interested in continuing a viable program with adequate funding we would now have several rotating type space stations, a colony on the moon, and at the very least a smaller colony on Mars, and perhaps even had manned exploration throughout the entire solar system. Further, we would have large efforts to exploit the resourses of space. However, as usuall our preoccupation with war (in this case mainly the losing effort in southeast asia), killed the program. <br /><br />This was neither GWB's nor NASA's fault, it was the fault of the stupidity and lack of vision of both the congress and the presidency at that time. However, I guess the saddest words in the english language really are, "What might have been....."<br /><br />Once, again the deficit hawks are now talking that we can not afford a viable space program and the current war... Oh well!!!

 

[JonClarke]

Hi Frodo, long time no see!<br /><br />I agree, there was an amazing hiatus in the US over the development of rocks even after WVM and Co. arrived in the US. Much could have started much sooner than was actually the case.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[trailrider]

It is always "fun" to speculate on such things, but fairly useless. Life's not an instant replay!<br /><br />One forgets that the main thing going on in the '50's and '60's was the Cold War...which could have turned hot at any time, and almost DID in October 1962!<br /><br />Had von Braun's influence not been available to the United States when it was, we probably would have been much farther behind in putting a our first satellite into orbit. The result might have emboldened the Soviet Union to taking more risks at brinksmanship! On the other hand, the actual technology might have still been available to us (U.S.). Don't forget, we had the Martin Co.'s Viking project, as well as over 100 V-2 rockets plus parts and components. <br /><br />Von Braun certainly influenced many people in getting interested in space exploration through his appearances on the Wonderful World of Disney, and in the articles he wrote for Collier's Magazine. I know...I was one of them!<br /><br />But whether there were others who could have stepped up, I just don't know. We DID have Willey Lay, Kraft Erehke, et al.<br /><br />If von Braun had been captured by the Soviets, our rockets would be powered by Russian engines and crews would be going to a space station on Russian boosters. Wait a minute...!<br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Aries! Ad Astra!<br />Trailrider