4-th Central Research Institute

of Russia Defense Ministry

in design of first artificial Earth satellite and carrier rocket

V.V.Vasilenko, E.V.Alexeev, B.P.Molchanov, V.V.Alexandrov

"Research Jet Institute of Principal Artillery Administration" was founded in 1946 according to Resolution of Council of Ministers of the USSR issued on May 13, 1946 and to Order of Minister of Armed Forces of the USSR issued on May 24, 1946. Originally it was subordinated to Principal Artillery Administration of Armed Forces of the USSR, then to Academy of Artillery Sciences (AAS) (Research Institute (RI) - 4 of AAS) and to Department of Deputy Commander of the Artillery. The first Head of the Institute was Alexey Ivanovich Nesterenko (1908-1995), Guards Lieutenant General of the Artillery, one of the most authoritative artillerymen and rocketeers at that time. At the end of the Great Patriotic War he was a Deputy Commander of the Fleet Artillery responsible for Guards Mortar Units.

The Institute during the process of its formation was headed by Generals, participants of the Great Patriotic Was who possessed practical experience in the field of jet and rocket engineering. The main mission of RI-4 of AAS (one of its intermediate names) was design of jet armaments and organization of corresponding experimental work. Subsequently it was set as the leading organization in Ministry of Defense (MD) of the USSR researching the problem of rocket armaments. Since 1989 it has been a Central Research Institute (CRI) of MD, the Forth Central Research Institute of Russian Defense Ministry.

The final formation of the Institute as the leading military RI in the field of space and rocket engineering is associated with a name of Major General (later Lieutenant General) Andrey Illarionovich Sokolov (1910-1976). In 1955 he was appointed Head of the Institute where he worked successfully for 15 years. Before this appointment he was Deputy Commander of the Artillery responsible for jet armaments and supervised practically all the works on creation of modern rocket weapon. As a member of state committees he took part in tests and first launches of ballistic rockets R-1 and R-2 at Kapustin Yar test range.

At that time there was an actual problem of creating military rockets not only of medium range but also of intercontinental one. Specific problems of studying the ways of creating and developing new rocket weapons including creation of range instrumentation (measuring) complexes and development of firing tables were set for the Institute. Undoubtedly, at that period the top priority task was design of intercontinental ballistic rockets (ICBM) with nuclear warheads. Simultaneously with works on ICBM a small group of specialist conducted (originally on their initiative) research works on creating an artificial satellite.

It is known that the possibility of space launch by means of a compound (multistage) rocket of tandem scheme was proved theoretically by an outstanding Russian scientist K.E.Tsiolkovsky. But for practical realization it was necessary to solve a lot of complex and essentially new scientific-technical and engineering problems.

A military scientist of RI-4 of AAS, Colonel Mikhail Klavdievich Tikhonravov was one of the pioneers in implementing Tsiolkovsky's ideas. He was a well-known rocketeer, S.P.Korolev's colleague in a Group of jet propulsion study (GJPS). The first liquid-propellant rocket "GJPS-09" was created on the basis of his project in our country. On August 17, 1933 it was successfully tested at the range in Nahabino near Moscow.

In 1946 M.K.Tikhonravov was appointed Head of one of the Institute's three sectors (Deputy Head of the Institute) dealing with the problems of guided liquid-propellant ballistic rockets design. His cherished dream was to implement space exploration by means of automatic and manned artificial Earth satellites (AES).

First of all it was necessary to have a powerful intercontinental rocket to attain orbital velocity and to launch AES. At that time the problem of creating such a rocket on the basis of known tandem scheme with the sequential start of engines of the second and subsequent stages could not be solved at existing level of technologies. Search for the ways of solving these problems was in progress.

In 1949 M.K.Tikhonravov came to scientifically grounded conclusion about technical possibility of attaining the orbital speed on existing technical basis of single-stage rockets being created at that time which were to be assembled in "a package". That conclusion was promoted by intensive research work conducted by a group of specialists of RI-4 of MD under his guidance in 1947-1949. At various periods that group included gifted young research workers of the Institute who were keen on M.K.Tikhonravov's ideas. They were Igor Marjanovich Yatsunsky, Gleb Yuryevich Maximov, Grigory Makarovich Moskalenko, Igor Konstantinovich Bazhinov, Anatoly Viktorovich Brykov, Lidiya Nikolaevna Soldatova, and others.

They proved that it was possible to create a long-range rocket consisting of a "package" of single-stage rockets with the flight range of about 1000 km, and to launch AES into orbit by means of this rocket. R-3 rocket developed under S.P.Korolev's guidance was considered then as a basis for compound rocket. The work resulted in report which was issued and sent to S.P.Korolev with attached Tikhonravov's memorandum on creating a satellite. On July 14, 1948 an Engineer Colonel M.K.Tikhonravov reported these results at scientific session of Academy of Artillery Sciences. Unfortunately, the audience was skeptical about this presentation.

However, S.P.Korolev highly appreciated the promising future of "rocket package" concept and on December 16, 1949 he sent to RI-4 a performance specification for fulfilling Research work on "Investigating the possibility and expediency of creating compound long-range "package"-type rockets". Accompanying letter said: "Due to urgency of the works carried out at RI-4 of MD under supervision of the corresponding member of Academy of Artillery Sciences M.K.Tikhonravov, RI-88 considers it expedient to make a contract with RI-4 for this work with handing over a performance specification".

Results obtained by Tikhonravov's group were stated in three basic reports of RI-4 of MD: "Research of possibility and expediency of compound rockets creation" (1950), "Research of the "rocket package" concept for attaining long ranges of firing" (1951), "Selection of optimal rocket variants for long-range firing" (1952).

In 1951 a project of experimental "package"-scheme rocket capable of launching an AES was developed on the basis of this research and sent to Design Bureau - 1 (DB). Design features of compound rocket consisting of several one-stage rockets were considered and methods of its parameters optimization were presented in the project. Problems of start, flight stability, stage separation, ways of pouring fuel to tanks of a rocket, which kept flying after stage separation, were considered. The project contained also the section devoted to the problems of AES creation, launching it into orbit and its descent to the Earth. Subsequently some basic results were used by DB-1 at initial design of R-7 rocket.

At the end of 1950 S.P.Korolev ordered the same research to A.N.Steklov Institute of applied mathematics supervised by Mstislav Vsevolodovich Keldysh to achieve higher validity of decision-making on "package scheme". In 1951 the discussion of results obtained under guidance of M.K.Tikhonravov and M.V.Keldysh showed that there was no discrepancy in basic results received by two independent organizations using different approaches and methods. It confirmed reliability and correctness of performed researches.

In 1953 S.P.Korolev accepted the "package" concept suggested by M.K.Tikhonravov as a basis of fantastic technical project of intercontinental ballistic rocket R-7 with flight range of 8000-10000 km. One should note that by that time the latest achievement in the country rocket production was a rocket with a flight range of 1200 km and works on creating a rocket with a flight range of 3000 km were under way. Therefore it was not surprising that some specialists and those who were responsible for financial support did not believe in its feasibility. M.K.Tikhonravov had to work hard and contend against the opponents to prove effectiveness and promising future of "package" scheme and possibility of creating and launching AES. The efforts were successful thanks to a group of enthusiasts at RI-4 of MD headed by M.K.Tikhonravov and I.M.Yatsunsky. Implementation of their concepts and obtained results became possible owing to Korolev's support.

S.P.Korolev boldly took the justified and therefore necessary risk. Possessing a titanic energy and brilliant intuition of a scientist and engineer he was the one to implement the fantasy into reality. S.P.Korolev together with Deputy Minister of Defense Mitrofan Ivanovich Nedelin managed to convince the Government of reality of that project at the meeting of Council of Ministers of the USSR and Defense Council where the fate of "fantastic" by that time project was considered. Works on design of the first-ever ICBM began.

On September 16, 1953 the Institute received an order from DB-1 for the fulfillment of "Researches concerning creation of artificial Earth satellite". In 1954 M.K.Tikhonravov prepared a note: "On possibility and necessity of creating an artificial Earth satellite". The advisability and timeliness of carrying out the works on artificial satellite and of detailed development of a complex of tasks connected with that problem were substantiated in that note. The materials were sent to S.P.Korolev.

On May 26, 1954 S.P.Korolev prepared a report to the Government on a complex of issues connected with creation of R-7 rocket and artificial Earth satellite. It was the same 1954 when the historical Governmental Regulation on development, manufacturing and testing of ICBM R-7 was adopted.

Works were conducted at an accelerated pace. Over 200 Research Institutes, Design Bureaus and plants, 25 Ministries and departments participated in development of the rocket complex. On July 24, 1954 the draft design of ICBM R-7 was completed, and on November 20, 1954 it was approved by Council of Ministers of the USSR. In two years and nine months after two unsuccessful attempts, on August 21, 1957, the first-ever ICBM R-7 was successfully launched. The technical feasibility of launching an artificial satellite became a reality.

It is interesting to note that on August 3, 1955 a letter of the US president D.Eyzenhauer on the US intention to launch an unmanned artificial satellite was announced at the sixth Congress of International Astronautics Federation (IAF) in Copenhagen. The USA were absolutely sure that they would outstrip other countries. But reality in the USSR turned out to be different and more rapid. At IAF Congress the first Space press-conference was held on initiative of Soviet Academician Leonid Ivanovich Sedov in the building of Soviet mission. Academician L.I.Sedov told foreign journalists about works conducted by Soviet scientists in the field of astronautics and creation of an artificial satellite. Sedov's speech was published in many world newspapers and appeared very impressive.

On August 30, 1955 S.P.Korolev reported on preparation of R-7 rocket and artificial satellite to Presidium of Academy of Sciences of the USSR at the meeting of leading rocket engineering specialists among whom there were Mstislav Vsevolodovich Keldysh and Valentin Petrovich Glushko. He announced his hopes to start the first launches of rocket before the beginning of International geophysical year in April - July 1957.

In February - March, 1956 at RI-88 (DB-1) practical engineering solution of technical problems and designing of the first satellites began under the guidance of S.P.Korolev and with participation of our Institute's specialists (in particular M.K.Tikhonravov and his group). On September 25, 1956 at official defense of draft design of the first artificial satellite S.P.Korolyov noted: ":The first works of Tikhonravov and his group and his participation in draft design of an artificial satellite should be especially emphasized".

In October, 1956 M.K.Tikhonravov with a number of his colleagues moved from RI-4 of MD to DB-1 according to Korolev's request and by approbation of Deputy Minister of Defense Mitrofan Ivanovich Nedelin. There he headed the specially formed Department 9 for artificial satellite design. Subsequently eight young design engineers from that department Konstantin Petrovich Feoktistov, Valery Nikolaevich Kubasov, Vitaly Ivanovich Sevastyanov and others became space pilots.

Almost simultaneously with works of creating the R-7 rocket and AES it was necessary to solve a problem of controlling and observing the rocket and satellite flights and measuring parameters of their movement. RI-4 of MD made a particular contribution to creation of a range measuring complex (RMC) and of a ground automated command measuring complex (GACMC).

On April 12, 1955 RI-4 was set as the leading organization in development of a range measuring complex according to Governmental Regulation on creation of a new research test range (RTR-5 of MD which is now known as Baykonur cosmodrome). General management of RMC creation was realized by Head of the Institute A.I.Sokolov and his deputies G.A.Tyulin and Yu.A.Mozzhorin. P.A.Agadjanov was appointed scientific supervisor for the project of RMC, measuring devices, common-timing system (CTS) and communication development. Structure and positions of trajectory measurement devices, means of telemetry, CTS and communication were defined in the project, accuracy of determining rocket movement parameters was estimated and requirements specification for all RMC components was developed. RMC project developed at the earliest possible date allowed to begin installation and start-and-adjustment works in 1956. At the beginning of 1957 RMC was put into service. V.T.Dolgov, G.I.Levin, I.I.Grebenshchikov, E.V.Yakovlev, V.A.Pyatakov I.A.Artelshchikov, I.K.Bazhinov, I.M.Yatsunsky, A.T.Belyaev, V.P.Kuznetsov, V.N.Medvedev, A.V.Esipenko, A.P.Katargin and others were the main executors of these works.

The range measuring complex coped with the set problems successfully and fully ensured obtaining necessary information on R-7 tests including data on its first successful launch on August 21, 1957.

However to provide AES launches it was necessary to create a full-scale automated measuring command complex (AMCC) containing much more scientific-measuring points (SMP) including a range measuring complex substantially supplemented with new devices.

According to Decree of Council of Ministers of the USSR issued on September 3, 1956 Research Institute - 4 of MD was appointed leading organization for measuring-command complex design and ballistic support of satellite launches in cooperation with other executing organizations. The cooperation included a great number of design bureaus, research institutes and plants. A number of industrial organizations and institutes of Academy of Sciences of the USSR participated in these works including Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics supervised by Academician Vladimir Alexandrovich Kotelnikov and Astronomic Council of Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Then the USSR Minister of Defense Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgiy Konstantinovich Zhukov entrusted Ministry of Defense with new unusual functions foreseeing the future important role of space in the country defense.

RI-4 developed theoretical foundations of AES launches' information support, orbit parameters measurements and estimations, state estimation, on-board equipment control, and principles and methods of their implementation. The Institute supervised and directly participated in all stages of works on command measuring complex (CMC) creation starting with development of requirements for measuring facilities and for their positioning, reconnaissance, mounting and putting into operation the ground equipment complexes with testing their workability during airplane flights.

In 1956 the Institute developed CMC draft design and engineering design. Ballistic substantiation of positioning CMC facilities was carried out and a complex of measuring and observation facilities was developed. In August, 1956 SMP locations were chosen all over the country from Leningrad to Kamchatka. Objects were built and SMPs were equipped with numerous means of measurement systems, common-timing system, communication and command lines under the guidance of the Institute. Finally, the command measuring complex located on the Soviet territory was ready to begin ICBM R-7 tests and AES launches. Due to particular significance of the works the general supervision at RI-4 was exercised by Head of the Institute General A.I.Sokolov and his Deputy G.A.Tyulin. The scientific supervision was carried out by Yu.A.Mozzhorin and his Deputies for branches: G.I.Levin and V.I.Dolgov. I.I.Artelshchikov was appointed senior executor. P.A.Agadjanov, I.K.Bazhinov A.V.Brykov, YU.V.Devyatkov, V.T.Dolgov, V.P.Kuznetsov, G.I.Levin, I.V.Meshcheryakov, G.S.Narimanov, I.F.Tashchilin, P.E.Elyasberg, E.V.Yakovlev, I.M.Yatsunsky, E.V.Alexeev, etc. (over 100 specialists) were the top level specialists and executors of these works.

It should be noted that after putting ground complexes into operation the institute staff worked as instructors, scientific advisers and chief operators at SMPs taking direct part both in testing R-7 ICBM and providing the first AES launch. Besides, at the suggestion of Head of RI-4 General A.I.Sokolov the Institute staff - experienced officers, front line officers many of whom fought being a member of Guards mortar units - were appointed the chiefs of a number of SMPs. Colonels N.A.Boldin, V.YA.Budilovskiy, B.N.Drozdov, V.I.Krasnopyor, V.V.Lavrovskiy, M.A.Nikolenko, M.S.Pasternak, N.G.Fadeev, Lieutenant-Colonel F.A.Krupetsky were the first SMPs' Chiefs.

The following data indicate a degree of participation of the Institute staff in that works: over 150 specialists took part in the final stage of work on preparing measuring facilities at various CMC objects and about 100 of them carried out equipment adjustment at all measuring points of Tyura-Tam test range during six months.

Thus the first ground CMC in the country was brought into service. It included 13 separate scientific measuring points (SMPs) situated all over the territory of the Soviet Union from Leningrad to Kamchatka.

љљљљљљљљљљљ It was highly necessary to create such a ramified complex of SMPs as it gave the possibility to specify parameters of upper atmosphere and Earth gravitational field due to large number of "measuring" circuits.љ Moreover it allowed defining artificial satellite movement parameters by means of one or two parametric systems of trajectory measurements of range and radial velocity which could be familiar, relatively cheap and simple in operation.

љљљљљљљљљљљ Taking into account the fact that during the first AES launch the measuring and telemetry facilities were only on the second stage of R-7 rocket, it was settled to use only separate SMPs situated in the boost phase zone of a launch vehicle and along the AES flight route: SMP -1 at the test range Tyura-Tam, SMP -2 - station Makat, SMP -3 - station Sary Shagan. SMP-1 of the test range being the main point for the first AES support was prepared for work on December 1, 1956. By that time the following equipment had been deployed: common-timing system "Bambuk", phase meter radiogoniometric station "Irtysh", two radio-rangefinders "Binokl", cine-theodolites KT-41, cine-telescope KT-50, eight telemetry stations for measuring slow-changing parameters "Tral", six telemetry stations for measuring fast changing parameters RTS-5 and other measuring devices.

љљљљљљљљљљљ General Staff Direction issued on May 8, 1957 charged RI-4 of MD with establishing "Center of managing and coordinating operation of measuring-command facilities, communication and CTS means, and scientific-coordinating computer unit and separate scientific-measuring points". Structure development, forming and staffing the subdivisions were supervised by Head of the Institute A.I.Sokolov. Leading specialists of the Institute were appointed Chiefs of these subdivisions. A.A.Vitruk (and A.G.Karas after him) was appointed Chief of Command Measuring Complex Center, P.A.Agadjanov was appointed Deputy for scientific work. The Central command point of CMC was at first placed in Moscow in the first building of Ministry of Defense.

љљљљљљљљљљљ A coordination-computer center designed for organizing measurements and space vehicle control was created by the efforts of Institute staff and cooperating executors. It was situated at RI-4 territory in Bolshevo of Moscow region. Thus the first Coordination-Computer Center in our country (Scientific-coordination computer unit), a prototype of the future flight control center was created. M.K.Polishchuk (since 1958 A.A.Bolshoi) was appointed Head of Scientific Coordination Computer Unit.

љљљљљљљљљљљ Coordination-computer center (before Flight Control Center was established) processed and displayed all information. In fact the Center performed simultaneously functions of the satellite control center and computer center, enabling satellite orbit parameters evaluation, decisions (required commands) on its control and calculations of designations for observation devices. Creation and operation of coordination-computer center was an important stage of Institute activity and of strengthening its authority as a large research organization of a space-rocket branch. During the works on AES in Scientific coordination computer unit, which received a code name "Moscow-Satellite", a huge data flow on satellite movement arrived not only from measuring devices of Range Measuring Complex but also from numerous organizations and radio amateurs receiving signals from the satellite.

љљљљљљљљљљљ It is necessary to note a valuable contribution of Institute to researches connected with ballistic support of conducted works. Those works were carried out under the guidance of the Deputy Chief of Institute for scientific work (from 1949 to 1959) Colonel (later Lieutenant-General) Georgiy Alexandrovich Tyulin (1941-1988), the prominent military scientist-organizer with large work experience in the field of rocket engineering who made a valuable contribution to its development. The long-range rocket firing tables were developed under his guidance and with active participation of leading specialists of the Institute M.D.Kislik, P.E.Elyasberg, I.M.Yatsunsky, K.P.Feoktistov, P.A.Melnikov, A.V.Brykov, G.S.Narimanov, I.V.Semyonov, and others. A new scientific school later called "Space ballistics" was created by this group. Crucial role in creating this scientific school belongs to Doctor of Technical sciences Pavel Efimovich Elyasberg. Results of ballistic researches received at the Institute were used in development of flying mission for R-7 rocket and determination of orbit parameters for the first AES.

љљљљљљљљљљљ On unforgettable day of October 4, 1957 the first artificial Earth satellite was put into orbit opening the Era of space exploration. The whole range of conducted researches and developed supporting systems and facilities provided obtaining all required data. The major result of AES successful launch and flight was not only development of qualitatively new and the first ICBM, but also tests of the first stage of ground automated command measuring complex of control and methods of control and ballistic support of an artificial satellite. The construction principles of the satellite as a system of mass service passed the tests.

Thus huge efforts of RI-4 scientists on research and development of theoretical and practical bases of creating the most significant elements of rocket and space engineering substantially contributed to successful launch of the first-ever artificial satellite and to subsequent solution of major problems of planetary nature. Creative work of the whole staff of Research Institute-4 of MD in the field of rocket engineering was highly appreciated. According to Decree of Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR issued on December 21, 1957 the Institute was decorated with an Order of Red Banner of Labor. 62 specialists received orders and medals. Besides, 8 specialists G.A.Tyulin, Yu.A.Mozzhorin, G.S.Narimanov, P.E.Elyasberg, P.A.Agadjanov, A.B.Brykov, I.K.Bazhinov, I.M.Yatsunsky became Lenin Prize laureates. A.I.Sokolov and M.K.Tikhonravov became Lenin Prize laureates later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky and Mikhail Klavdievich Tikhonravov, 1934.

 

 

 

		Mikhail Klavdievich Tikhonravov				Andrey Illarionovich Sokolov