Think about it. James Bond was not the first cinema superagent to head into outerspace in "Moonraker". Derek Flint beat 007 by 12 years. That same year, the Bond producers were making the outer space themed "You Only Live Twice" so I figure the Flint team wanted to beat Bond to the punch.
shareBoth ILF & YOLT have the hero going into the space capsule.
Good thing 007 didn't he might have died in space.
Both films have fights in the ready room(s)
BTW the books of MR & YOLT have nothing to do with space.
In the novel MR is a nuke missle. That Drax's (a former Nazi) is going to drop on London. James take over the controls and drops it on Drax's sub something like in the film of "The Spy Who Loved Me" Oh there was no Holly Goodhead matter of fact Bond doesn't get the girl in this one.