Аннотация: Vladimir Chelomey and Sergei Korolev, participants in the scientific dispute (1933 - 1961). An essay on the history of Soviet cosmos.
Vladimir Chelomey and Sergei Korolev, participants in the scientific dispute (1933 - 1961). An essay on the history of Soviet cosmos.
One of the biographies of Vladimir Chelomey mentions his scientific dispute with Sergei Korolev. The dispute took place at a higher educational institution. Vladimir Chelomey looked well dressed and had a convincing manner of speech. Sergei Korolev was wearing a gray jacket and sweater ... It was, seems, 1957.
Yes, the face-to-face and correspondence dispute between Vladimir Chelomey and Sergei Korolev may have taken place - before 1961.
In the depths of the collective consciousness of technical specialists and scientists, the memory of Korolev's launch of the simplest rocket back in 1933, of his work on missile topics under the patronage of Tukhachevsky, was preserved.
During this period of time (in the 30s) Vladimir Chelomey showed himself to be a student (of high education institute) with great abilities.
The rocket theme was forced to compete with aviation one in the late 30s - early 40s of the 20th century.
As a result of purposeful efforts or in connection with the general level of technical thought and technical culture, the work clearly strayed from the rocket topic to the creation of jet accelerators for aircraft, or to the creation of jet airplanes of various types.
This was reflected in the creative career of Vladimir Chelomey, and in the rocket and space works of Sergei Korolev.
Both of them for a certain period of time were engaged in rocket boosters and jet aircraft.
On October 18, 1947, at the Kapustin Yar test site, the first sample of a ballistic missile, assembled and debugged under the leadership of S.P.Korolev, was launched.
Around March 18, 1954, a university teacher, Professor Vladimir Chelomey, wrote a letter to Malenkov with a request to restore work on 10XN and 16X projectile aircraft. As a result, a "Special Design Group" (SDG) was created under the leadership of Vladimir Chelomey with independent premises, property, staff and state funding.
In 1955, the SDG was transformed into the State Union Experimental Design Bureau N 52 (post box 80). A development of the P-5 cruise missile for the navy began.
Chelomey did not have a good relationship with Bulganin. But gradually relations with Nikita Khrushchev began to take shape (N.S. Khrushchev's son Sergei from 1958 until about 1968 worked in the organization of Vladimir Chelomey).
The period 1957-1961 was a bit unexpected for the Soviet leadership. On the one hand, it is nice to give as a gift to a foreign leader a model of the world's first artificial Earth satellite, ride with the first cosmonaut in a car and stand with him on the podium of the Mausoleum.
On the other hand, the reputation of the leaders of the Soviet cosmos began to exceed the reputation of the leaders of Soviet politics. And this is unusual ... Even dangerous ...
For Sergei Korolev, it was necessary to find competitors. As well, a controlled conflict could to help in a new situation.
According the Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR N 715-296 of June 23, 1960 "On the production of launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft for the Military Space Forces in 1960-1967." was entrusted to firm of V.N. Chelomey to fulfill the preparation of a draft design for a manned orbital (or suborbital) rocket plane.
July 4, 1963 V.N. Chelomey was elected a member of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Chelomey together with Korolev were instructed to "carry out general management of the development of scientific problems using new technology."
Vladimir Chelomey receives part of the state funding for space issues.
So, a naval missile specialist becomes a space specialist. Considering the talent of Vladimir Chelomey, a positive features can also be found, can be seen in this phenomenon.
The enormous success of Sergei Pavlovich Korolev in the period 1957-1961 simultaneously drew a line under the period of his general leadership in the development of Soviet cosmic sphere.
From a person who enjoyed almost absolute support of the state and achieved unprecedented successes, he became a vulnerable leader forced to play a game against an all-powerful state and overcome enormous difficulties.
Korolev's vision regarding the directions of development of Soviet cosmos was replaced by Khrushchev's opinion on the most important issues. Space policy from a certain moment was created according to new algorithms.
In the era of the skillful politician Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev, an era of unproductive competition in the space sector began and the period of Sergey Korolev's gradual ousting from the position of a leader to the position of a person who failed to win the "moon race".
June 25, 2021 18:52
Translation from Russian into English: June 26, 2021 06:37.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Владимир Челомей и Сергей Королёв, участники диспута (1933 - 1961). Очерк истории советского космоса'.