>Given the general feel of incompetence and mismanagement on the Soviet side

200+ ground crew and spectators were blown apart by Soviet incompetence during the R-16 launch. Yes, there are far, far more deaths in the Soviet program. Its is literally history's worst rocket catastrophe. The Soviets even denied it and covered it up until 1989. Please stop parroting Russia propaganda. You're not fooling anyone here.

http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/space-disasters/nedelin-c...

http://www.astronautix.com/articles/therophe.htm

http://gizmodo.com/5239848/how-not-to-launch-a-rocket-the-ne...