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I enjoy WIs about the space programme(s) but I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of them are yearning/optimistic wanks, and you're left with the impression that if absolutely any decision was decided differently from OTL, the result would be a bigger and better space programme. In other words OTL is the worst of all possible worlds, which I don't think is very fair.

So, here's an idea for a WI that is different rather than better. What if NASA and the Soviets had (respectively) focused on the Big Gemini and the TKS?

These were extended versions of conical capsules (the Gemini for the US and the "Merkur" for Russia) with a cylindrical module at the back that would have served as an orbital habitat. The idea was that they could be used to build up a space station in orbit from these modules, and then the crew could return in just the capsule.

OTL the Russians experimented with the TKS but mainly just used it for the military manned spy satellite "Almaz" programme. When the Russians (and Americans) found that manned spy satellites weren't cost-effective, the programme was cancelled. However, elements of the module design were used in later Russian space stations. NASA's Big Gemini was cut, I believe, mainly to free up funding for the Apollo missions and Skylab was adopted instead on the space station front.

Now these spacecraft could have fulfilled part of the role of the Space Shuttle, and somewhat earlier (like the shuttle, they were meant to provide mainstream, all-purpose access to space, and might have lived up to that promise, unlike the shuttle). However they would probably be less versatile than the shuttle. So how about this for a 'different, not better' space WI?
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