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This fascinating and informative series of Soviet space program history reports continues with a reproduction of a truly historic document: Soviet Space Programs, 1976-1980. The history of the Russian spaceflight effort is chronicled in these superb Congressional Research Service reports to Congress. The early reports were authored by a renowned Soviet space expert, the late Dr. Charles S. Sheldon. They provide an "as-it-happened" contemporaneous account of every element of the Soviet program: manned and unmanned programs, military satellite, launch sites, compendiums of official statements, plans, international participation and cosmonauts, and much more. Every student of space flight needs to have these important reports in their collection.Overview, supporting facilities and launch vehicles of the Soviet space program * Introduction * Leadership interest in space * Role of the Communist Party and government * Dominant role of the military establishment * Role of the scientific establishment * Conclusions * Resource burden of the Soviet space program * Introduction * Soviet secrecy * Soviet space spending * Burden and opportunity costs of the Soviet space program. * Future prospects * INTRODUCTION -- THE CONTINUING SOVIET COMMITMENT TO SPACE * Background * Space infrastructure in place and working * An invitation to intensify space politics * International space cooperation: Mixed possibilities * The political leadership: Pattern of constancy and continuity in space commitment * Economic constraints on priorities in space * A summing up * CHAPTER 1 * OVERVIEW, SUPPORTING FACILITIES, AND LAUNCH VEHICLES OF THE SOVIET SPACE PROGRAM * Tracking and other ground support * Future outlook * CHAPTER 2 * POLITICAL GOALS AND PURPOSES OF THE U.S.S.R. IN SPACE * Soviet political uses of space * Romanenko-Grechko spaceflight: A case study of space politics * CHAPTER 3 * SOVIET ATTITUDE TOWARD INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SPACE * CHAPTER 4 * ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOVIET SPACE P