If to be, it is necessary to be the First V.P.Chkalov

To the 50^th Anniversary

of the first flight of a Man in Space

From International Editorial Board

This special issue of the International scientific journal "Actual problems of aviation and aerospace systems", No.1(32), vol.16, 2001, is devoted to the 50^th Anniversary of the first space flight of a Man:

on 12 April 1961 for the first time ever, Yury Alexeevich Gagarin, the First cosmonaut of the Earth, pilot in command of "Vostok-1" spacecraft, got off the launch pad at 09:07 a.m. and after a single orbit pass landed at 10:55 a.m. This was an event of paramount importance for the history of Mankind that logically resulted from the efforts of the USSR representatives, who had managed to join the achievements of fundamental and applied science, engineering, socio-political system. And it definitely confirmed the beginning of active space exploration era, which had actually started on 4 October 1957, when the first artificial Earth satellite (Soviet Sputnik-1) was launched.

It is symbolic that Yu.A.Gagarin wrote in his letter before his flight (on 10 April 1961): ": I'd like : to devote this flight to the people of new society, :, to our great Motherland, to our Science".

Great Russian scientist Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky was the Epoch Founder of Space exploration, with profound development of all the areas of fundamental and applied cosmonautics. This Epoch is associated with distinguishing achievements in space exploration implemented on the basis of fundamental science and thought-out engineering practice: from the first, Soviet, Earth satellite (1957) - to the first Man on space orbit (Yu.A.Gagarin, 12 April 1961), to the satellite constellations and International space stations, to the space flights and lunar landing, to the interplanetary missions:

Scientific theories and approaches that became a basis for the first space investigations, theoretical and applied research, including the problems of dynamics of celestial bodies and artificial satellites and engineering problems of space flights, are associated with the names of outstanding mathematicians and specialists in mechanics, with scientific and design Schools of our country, which have been recognized all over the world. Among them are the Academicians: Leonard Euler; Alexander Mikhailovich Lyapunov, Founder of the motion stability theory; Nikolay Guryevich Chetayev, who extended A.M.Lyapunov's concepts and theory to the whole scientific and engineering world community, who founded Kazan Chetayev's School of stability and Kazan Aviation Institute (KAI-A.N.Tupolev KSTU); Sergey Pavlovich Korolev, Chief Designer of space-rocket technics; Mstislav Vsevolodovich Keldysh, scientific Head of the USSR Space Program, Theorist in cosmonautics.

Anniversaries of the outstanding scientists and designers of that time, who contributed to that notable breakthrough, their projects and creativity, constitute the field of special scientific research that is important for us now. Among them: M.K.Tikhonravov, V.P.Barmin, M.S.Ryazansky, G.Ye.Lozino-Lozinsky, V.P.Glushko, V.N.Chelomey, M.K.Yangel:

It were the fundamental higher engineering education, powerful scientific Schools, lofty ideas, boundless loyalty and inexhaustible enthusiasm that provided the Soviet Union with the chance for such a brilliant breakthrough in science, technology and ideology. In fact, the Soviet Union won a Victory in the struggle for Peace on 12 April 1961.

It is represented the developments of the leading specialists in aerospace, including the analysis of historical path that led to the results of Space Era beginning. The papers pay a tribute to the professional heroism of the representatives of science and engineering and top leadership of our country, who made the fantasy come true, who ensured the Victory of the Soviet Union for Peace.

The current issue deals with scientific research, analytical reviews of these events and associated problems, analytical and information papers, polemical ideas and prospects of further development of cosmonautics in Russia and in the World, reflections on importance of space scientific-and-engineering heritage for the world community in general, and research results in aviation and aerospace systems.

The special issue was supported by our Partners: Federal Space Agency, "Yu.A.Gagarin Research&Test Cosmonaut Training Center", K.E.Tsiolkovsky Russian Astronautics Academy, Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering - "TsNIImash"; Academy of aviation and Aeronautics sciences, "A.A.Maximov Space Systems Research Institute", N.E.Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow Aviation Institute (State Technical University), "La Sapienza" University of Rome:

Our authors are the leading specialists, scientific associates, representatives of Academies of sciences, design bureaus, scientific research institutes, Universities, Space Agencies, who work in the fields of theoretical and applied problems of aviation and cosmonautics.

S.K.Krikalyov, I.G.Sokhin, A.A.Kuritsyn (Yu.A.Gagarin Research&Test Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), specialists in area of theoretical and applied problems of astronaut training process simulation, creation and operation of automated monitoring systems of astronaut training on simulators, - with scientific-technical survey of problems and Priorities of manned space exploration development as one the means of sustainable development.

V.A.Davydov, Yu.N.Makarov (Federal Space Agency, Russia), specialists in area of arrangement of space activities and application of space means for the benefit of defense and socio-economic issues, - with representations of important applied aspects of fundamental space research.

A.S.Kretov (A.N.Tupolev Kazan State Technical University, Russia), specialist in area of designing of flying vehicles and of development history of aviation and rocket-space technique, - with author's material on some programs of manned cosmonautics.

Claudio Maccone (SETI Permanent Study Group, International Academy of Astronautics, Italy), specialist in area of mathematical physics and space problems, - with scientific results on mathematical modelling in theory of search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence; with extending classical Drake model with using central limit lheorem in form of A.M.Lyapunov (or in form of Ja.W.Lindeberg).

V.V.Gopanchuk, M.Yu.Potapenko (EDB <Fakel>, Russia), specialists in area of research of operating processes in electric propulsion thruster, - with comparative analysis of main performances and characteristics of various types of modern electric propulsion thrusters.

V.A.Menshikov ("A.A.Maximov Space Systems Research Institute", Russia), specialist in area of space applied mechanics, space-rocket technique, - with scientific-information review on space projects of A.A.Maximov Space Systems Research Institute.

Filippo Graziani, Ugo Ponzi (Engineering Aerospace School, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy), specialists in area of astrodynamics, space systems, educational microsatellites, - with brief scientific-information survey on space research programs of Engineering Aerospace School of "La Sapienza" University of Rome, with representation of San Marco project and Prof. Luigi Broglio as initiator of development of University small satellites from 1961.

V.A.Lesnevskiy, V.V.Sokolov (EDB <Fakel>, Russia), specialists in domain of propulsion testing, - with authors results on electrodynamic thrust module simulator.

G.G.Raykunov (Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, "TsNIImash", Russia), specialist in domain of system analysis, space and rocket systems of special purpose, - with short survey on guidelines and approaches to building the new Space Center, for future space activity progress.

A.P.Alpatov, P.P.Byelonozhko (Institute of Technical Mechanics of National Academy of Science of Ukraine and National Space Agency of Ukraine, Ukraine), specialists in domain of systems analysis, dynamics of controlled motion of complex space systems, - with scientific-technical description of research and results on basic scientific areas of Institute of Technical Mechanics related to rocket-space technique.

V.б.Polyachenko (JSC MIC NPO Mashinostroyenia, Russia), the specialist in area of rocket and space systems and designing missile weapon, - with survey article on space projects and systems of Academician V.N.Chelomey.

A.V.Degtyarev, A.E.Kashanov (<Yuzhnoye> State Design Bureau of M.K.Yangel name, Ukraine), the specialists in domain of development of combat missile systems and rocket-and-space systems, - with brief technical-information description on directions and results of scientific-engineering developments in State Design Bureau of M.K.Yangel name.