[avmich]

I'm afraid you underestimate Moscow space cluster. In '90s, even in '00s their rocket engines - not quite from Moscow, a few kilometers away, from Khimki - remained world class. Realized project from, among others, Korolyov, less than an hour of drive from Moscow - Sea Launch, not realized but seriously pushed - Kliper. In 80's they might be unquestioned champions, not trailing - but I don't know your criteria, it's just what I see. Moscow had Proton-making factory, two significant space-relevant universities - MAI and MGTU, and several strong technical universities also related to space industry - MGU, MFTI, MEI... And there are others. So, in terms of being "the rocket design capital of the world", if you consider "rocket" to mean "space projects", Moscow with immediate neighboring region - not Soviets - was until recently (2008?.. later?..) pretty competitive. What LA region has of similar effects?