Comparison of US and Estimated Soviet Expenditures For Space Programs, August 1964

Background

Excerpt from the document:

“Soviet investment in space programs has been expensive but has paid handsome dividends in the form of a number of spectacular space accomplishments that created an image of military strength and technological superiority. Well-publicized Soviet space “firsts” and an official policy of concealing failures have imbued the Soviet space effort with an aura of virtually unblemished success, although well over one-third of all Soviet space attempts have ended in failure. In spite of economies resulting from the use of military boosters and facilities, total Soviet outlays for space are estimated with a relatively high degree of confidence to lie within a range of $6 billion to $10 billion through fiscal year 1964. The magnitude of this range results primarily from different assumptions regarding the timing of the Soviet manned lunar landing program. Total US space expenditures, as of the same date, have been substantially greater than those of the USSR — approximately $16 billion for all civilian and military space programs.”