April 12th is a significant date for our country. It testifies that Russia is a great space power. Russia is a powerful country in which progressive and bright minds live, as well as courageous and conscious citizens.
Why can this be affirmed with all courage and seriousness? The fact is that our compatriots were the first to fly into outer space. And this despite the numerous difficulties of a financial, political and social nature.
What helped a country that had just risen from the ashes of World War II to become a great space power? Having straightened its mighty shoulders, Russia declared itself to the whole world as a progressive-technological state.
Let's plunge a little into the history of Russian cosmonautics and find out how it all began. Why did Russia become a great space power? Who was behind the scientific inventions, exploits and discoveries? And what was the true price of the Soviet road to the stars?
At the origins of a great cause
The first who was seriously interested in space exploration was a simple school teacher, a self-taught scientist, Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky.
The great theorist was born in 1857, since childhood he was interested in science and admired the beautiful starry sky. Konstantin Eduardovich believed that the development of life on our planet is so great that it can overcome the countless kilometers of the Universe and conquer it, striving for a lofty and noble goal - to spread life in the endless expanses of outer space. Moreover, Tsiolkovsky believed that Russia was a great cosmic power, and therefore assigned his homeland a worthy place in the development of distant galaxies.
To realize his dream, a Russian scientist did a lot - he substantiated from a scientific and technical point of view the use of rockets and rocket launchers for space missions. Moreover, in his writings, Konstantin Eduardovich designed a controlled balloon and proposed the development of a controlled airship in a metal shell. A little later, he invented a drawing of a metal airplane with a thick wing (which was a prototype for the design of modern aircraft).
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Tsiolkovsky wrote an article in which a long-range missile project equipped with a liquid-propellant engine was given. In his works, the scientist made a number of mathematical calculations, according to which he could recommend the most favorable distribution of the mass of the rocket and its flight path. Konstantin Eduardovich also investigated the issue of human flight in zero gravity.
Followers
The student of Tsiolkovsky - Sergey Pavlovich Korolev, continued the work of his mentor in practice. He also believed that Russia was a great space power, so he strove for the creation of a rocket and space industry in his homeland.
For example, together with his like-minded Tsander, Sergey Pavlovich contributed to the creation of the Reactive Scientific Research Institute. Despite the misunderstanding and obstacle of the authorities (he was arrested several times, exiled and even beaten), the scientist became one of the first designers of ballistic missiles.
Space conquest
How did space flights of Russia across interplanetary space begin ? The initiator of great achievements was the same Korolev. This time, Russian scientists such as mathematician and mechanic Mstislav Vsevolodovich Keldysh and design engineer Mikhail Klavdievich Tikhonravov became his allies . They proposed to the government a bold project to launch into outer space an artificial Earth satellite (AES). The proposal was approved by the authorities, and scientists enthusiastically set to work.
Within a couple of years, in October 1957, the first (!) Artificial artificial satellite in the history of mankind was launched into near-earth orbit. This event proved to the whole world that Russia is the largest space power. Since then, the era of Soviet space exploration began.
Further works
A year later, Korolev and his team launched several more satellites into orbit to study the radiation belts of our planet. Also, projects were developed to launch automatic stations on the moon, which culminated in incredible success. Scientists have developed a lunar apparatus, the purpose of which was a soft landing on a space object and the transfer of photographic materials from the Moon to Earth.
From that moment, the flight of people in intergalactic spaces became possible.
Yes, a manned spacecraft was created, which was the world's first spacecraft. It was called Vostok-1.
Before the main event
The purpose of this flight was, in modern opinion, quite simple - to perform a single-turn flight around planet Earth at an altitude of about two hundred kilometers, with a duration of one and a half hours and the purpose of landing at a given point. However, do not forget that it was 1961 and the world's first space flight.
Who will be assigned to carry out this important and honorable task? The Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee had twenty applicants, two of whom were Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin and German Stepanovich Titov (now known as the youngest astronaut).
Korolev was in a hurry to make a flight, because he wanted to get ahead of the Americans, who planned to send his chosen one into space on April 20, 1961. Therefore, the Soviet Union decided to take off the spacecraft eight days earlier. Gagarin was allowed to fly.
The first hero-cosmonaut
At that time, Yuri Alekseevich was twenty-seven years old. He was full of strength, energy and life ambitions. Gagarin was born in a family of ordinary workers. Since childhood, raved about flights and space. Due to his small stature, he was nearly expelled from the aviation school.
Gagarin launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. In flight, he watched the beauty of the globe, and also carried out the necessary experiments - took food, wrote in pencil. The young man recorded all his impressions on a tape recorder.
Despite the numerous difficulties and breakdowns of devices, Yuri Alekseevich landed safely. True, this was done after strong shaking and anxiety. The landing site (Gagarin ejected from the spacecraft seven kilometers to the earth's surface) also turned out to be unplanned. However, these little things no longer affected the fait accompli: for the first time a man visited space, and the Soviet cosmonaut turned out to be this man!
Respect and honor
It was a great event. No wonder it is so often recalled in the smallest details, for example, at various events and concerts dedicated to the anniversaries of space exploration by man.
By the way, recently in our homeland we again recalled the unprecedented contribution made to the progress and prestige of the Russian Federation by such courageous people as Korolev and Gagarin. On October 4, ceremonies took place dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the launch of the first satellite. Russia is a great cosmic power that appreciates and remembers the colossal works of scientists and astronauts who are at the origins of technological progress.
Second man in space
Four months after the first and successful attempt at space flight, another ascent to the stars was made. This time, the youngest astronaut in the world stood at the helm - German Titov, sometimes called Gagarin's understudy. However, this is not quite true.
Firstly, Titov performed a longer flight, equal to twenty-five hours. Secondly, his device made seventeen revolutions around the planet. Well, and thirdly, in spite of new achievements, Gagarin cannot have understudies, since he was the very first and most fearless person to go into space. He became a pioneer in this serious and exciting business.
At the time of the flight, German Stepanovich was almost twenty-six years old.
He was born in the Altai Territory, in the family of a school teacher. From childhood, the boy sought to become a pilot. One and a half years before his flight, he joined the cosmonaut corps, where he studied all the wisdom of this new and unusual profession. For his bold deed, Titov received the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
First woman
What happened next? It is impossible to briefly talk about the many spacewalks that were carried out under the guidance of the wise Queen and his followers. They talked a lot about these flights and projects at national events dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the launch of the first satellite. Russia is a great space power. She was always several steps ahead of such developed countries as America, Japan and many others. For example, she gave the world the first woman in intergalactic space. She turned out to be Valentina Tereshkova.
Sergei Korolev really wanted to see a woman in space. However, the selection and requirements were too strict and categorical. Out of all comers, there were only five likely applicants.
The young Valya won, as she ideally corresponded to the standard of an impeccable Soviet girl - a worker and peasant origin, a father who died at the front and, most importantly, sincere faith in the Soviet regime, inspiration and admiration for her beloved homeland.
At the age of twenty-six, on July 16, 1963, Valentina Vladimirovna became the first female captain of a spaceship. She spent almost three days in zero gravity and enclosed space, controlling the device and photographing interplanetary space.
The success and defeat of Tereshkova
According to objective information, Tereshkova could not cope with the commands and regulation of the ship. When contacted, her voice sounded sluggish, she was poorly oriented in space and constantly wanted to sleep.
But, despite this, Valentina Vladimirovna did an excellent job with the main task - she became the first woman in space, despite physical and emotional overload or ailments.
After the flight, Tereshkova entered the Air Force Academy, reached the rank of professor, began to conduct active social and political activities.
Modern time
What is the current situation in Russian astronautics? Now the Russian Federation, as never before, takes an active part in the development of the universe. Russian space stations have official and international status.
For example, starting in 1971, the USSR carried out the first launch of an orbital station, the operation of which lasted until 2001. The first crew to fly died on return to Earth.
Since 1992, a mutual program was opened between the United States and the Russian Federation, which involved joint expeditions to this place of research.
One hundred twenty-seven launches of manned ships were also committed, of which only four ended in disaster (in two cases there were human casualties, in two cases only technical).
Now the space technology of Russia allows it without special problems to launch satellites and manned spacecraft into space. Such a situation is not only an important breakthrough in space science, but also a significant strategic and political advantage of our state on the world stage.
The meaning of celebration
As you can see, Cosmonautics Day in Russia is a very important and respected holiday. It has a rich history, built by wise scientists and fearless astronauts. Behind him is the titanic work of both individuals and the entire Russian people.
The memory of the events of the 1950-1960s encourages us to look back with gratitude to the past and look forward with hope. After all, while there are such bold, intelligent and educated people as Tsiolkovsky, Korolev, Gagarin, Tereshkova and others, we confidently look into the starry sky and know that science will reach unprecedented heights.