In sum, the Soviets' design of the Energiya a modular ELV was in keeping with traditional emphasis on functionality, versatility, and simplicity. fact that they designed a new rocket with cryogenic liquid fuel no less, for Energiya instead of adapting a previous Soviet speaks to Glushko's political influence at the as well as a Soviet political system could give one individual so much power. Buran's configuration as a winged, reusable spacecraft largely attributable to two factors: the long history of spaceplane concepts and the Soviets' to match the U.S. Shuttle's capabilities by its design.

First, politics inevitably shapes and often dominates the of science and technology. The U.S. Shuttle built and designed the way it was a variety of mostly domestic political reasons. the Buran was also heavily affected by politics, its development is one more Cold story of the Soviets competing with the States. During the 1970s, the Apollo-Soyuz Test was the exception that proves the rule superpower competition and the stories of the Shuttles conform closely to this rule.