Rocket Designer, Engineer, Space Pioneer. He was the head of the Soviet Space Program during the 1950s and 1960s, overseeing the Sputnik, Luna, Verena, Vostok and Soyuz space missions. He attended the Kiev Polytechnic University and Moscow High Technical School. Following graduation he joined the Central Aero and Hydrodynamics Institute where he worked in the development of cruise missiles and rocket-powered gliders. He was imprisoned during the party purges of the 1930s on false charges of sabotage. While in prison his skills as an engineer were utilized in helping to design the Soviet Union's advanced high speed tactical bomber. Following release from prison in 1944 he was transferred to Germany to study captured German rocket technology. Following his return to Moscow in 1947 he was placed in charge of Soviet rocket technology and development. In October 1957 he made international headlines, managing the successful launch of Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite for which he received the Lenin Award. From 1959 to 1965 he managed all aspects of Soviet space flight including Yuri Gagarin's first manned space flight, Aleksei Leonov's first space walk and several unmanned photographic missions to the Moon and Mars. In addition to the Lenin Award, he was a two time recipient of the "Hero of Labor" award and the Tsiolkovsky Gold Medal award presented by the Soviet Union's Academy of Science. The last years of his life were committed to landing a Soviet manned mission on the moon, but he died before his dream could be realized. He died at the age of 60 following complications from surgery, and was buried in the Kremlin with full state honors.
Rocket Designer, Engineer, Space Pioneer. He was the head of the Soviet Space Program during the 1950s and 1960s, overseeing the Sputnik, Luna, Verena, Vostok and Soyuz space missions. He attended the Kiev Polytechnic University and Moscow High Technical School. Following graduation he joined the Central Aero and Hydrodynamics Institute where he worked in the development of cruise missiles and rocket-powered gliders. He was imprisoned during the party purges of the 1930s on false charges of sabotage. While in prison his skills as an engineer were utilized in helping to design the Soviet Union's advanced high speed tactical bomber. Following release from prison in 1944 he was transferred to Germany to study captured German rocket technology. Following his return to Moscow in 1947 he was placed in charge of Soviet rocket technology and development. In October 1957 he made international headlines, managing the successful launch of Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite for which he received the Lenin Award. From 1959 to 1965 he managed all aspects of Soviet space flight including Yuri Gagarin's first manned space flight, Aleksei Leonov's first space walk and several unmanned photographic missions to the Moon and Mars. In addition to the Lenin Award, he was a two time recipient of the "Hero of Labor" award and the Tsiolkovsky Gold Medal award presented by the Soviet Union's Academy of Science. The last years of his life were committed to landing a Soviet manned mission on the moon, but he died before his dream could be realized. He died at the age of 60 following complications from surgery, and was buried in the Kremlin with full state honors.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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