Why did the former Soviet Union focus on developing space stations?

The former Soviet Union focused on developing space stations, on the one hand, because the appearance of space stations was directly contributed by the development of space technology and the benefits of space activities. In the 1950s and 1960s, satellites and manned spacecraft appeared before the space station. But in the long run, artificial satellites and manned spacecraft can only meet the temporary needs of exploring space, and more advanced space technology products must work in the sky in the future space science activities of mankind. Both artificial satellites and manned spacecraft have their own shortcomings. The scale of artificial satellites is too small for manned spacecraft to fly for a long time, which requires new spacecraft to improve these limitations. The space station has become the development goal of the United States and the Soviet Union. With the in-depth development of space technology, people's urgent desire to develop space resources and the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union have all contributed to the implementation of the space station plan.

On the other hand, the former Soviet Union began to regard the space station as the core of future space program development in the late 1960s. At this time, the United States focused on the space shuttle. The former Soviet Union believed that only when the space station can stay in orbit for a long time can human beings work in orbit for a long time, make full use of space resources and develop space exploration far-reaching. For the long-term goals of mankind, such as space travel and space immigration. The space station is the foundation of future dreams.

Based on this, the former Soviet Union focused on space station technology after 1960s. Since then, they have successfully launched three generations of space stations, which is the best research achievement and an unparalleled space achievement.