Sergei Pavlovich Korolev is an academician whose name is known, as a rule, to all educated people of the planet. What is the reason for such popularity? What is it that this undoubtedly talented person managed to create that stories about him have been retold for several decades?
Like all Soviet scientists, he made a significant contribution to the development of world science. But that's not all. He was the first. The first to manage to conquer outer space. Of course, after him there were and will be the most talented specialists who have devoted and continue to devote their work to the exploration of the galaxy. But it is Sergey Pavlovich Korolev who is considered the pioneer.
In fact, one can talk about this person endlessly, each time being surprised by his talent, perseverance and determination.
Section 1. Childhood and adolescence
Sergei Korolev, whose biography is quite rich, was born in the Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr on January 12, 1907. His parents separated early, the boy did not remember his own father at all, as he was brought up in his mother's family in the city of Nizhyn. It was there in 1911 that Sergei saw the flight of the pilot Utochkin in an airplane. To say that this event simply impressed him is to say nothing. The teenager was indescribably delighted.
In 1917, Korolyov moved with his mother to Odessa to live with his stepfather. At that time there was a detachment of seaplanes in South Palmyra. And pure chance brought the teenager together with the mechanic V. Dolganov, who later began to teach him all the subtleties. The boy spent the whole summer with the brigade, helping to prepare the planes for flights, and in a very short time he was able to become an indispensable and trouble-free assistant to local mechanics and pilots.
Sergei Korolev failed to immediately get a certificate of general secondary education, as a result he graduated from a two-year construction school, where he studied very diligently. Throughout his studies, Korolev continued to participate in the life of the hydro-aviation detachment. And the glory of a brilliant mechanic was firmly entrenched in the guy.
Sergei Pavlovich Korolyov was a member of the Aviation Society of Ukraine, lectured on gliding, took part in the construction of a glider designed by the famous pilot K. A. Artseulov. After a while, he entered the Polytechnic Institute of Kyiv, where he was considered one of the most educated students of the fur. faculty.
In 1926, after two years of study in Kyiv, a talented young man transferred to Moscow with a degree in aeromechanics (MVTU). In March 1927, Korolev graduated from the glider school with honors.
Section 2. Arrest and work for the KGB
In his autobiography, the chief designer recalled that he was arrested very unexpectedly (it happenedJune 27, 1938) on charges of sabotage. Like many famous people of that time, he was tortured. There is also evidence that both jaws were broken.
On September 25, 1938, the scientist was included in the list of special persons whose cases were considered by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. In that list, he was listed in the first (execution) category. But on September 27, 1938, the court sentenced him to only 10 years in labor camp. A few years later, the term was reduced, and he was released in 1944. During this time, Sergei went through Butyrka in Moscow, a prison in Novocherkassk and Kolyma, where he was engaged in "general work" at a gold mine.
The future chief designer returned to Moscow on March 2, 1940, where after only 4 months he was again convicted. In the NKVD prison TsKB-29, he participated in the construction of Pe-2 and Tu-2 bombers. Such talents were the reason for the transfer of Korolev to another design bureau at aircraft factory No. 16 in Kazan. In 1943, he was appointed to a responsible position in the production of rocket launchers. In July 1944, the scientist was released ahead of schedule on the personal instructions of I. V. Stalin.
Section 3. Sergei Korolev - Academician. Scientific papers
Achievements in space exploration deserve special attention. So, this talented Soviet specialist took part in the following projects aimed at:
- Development of ballistic missiles. In 1956, under his strict guidance, a two-stage ballistic missile R-7 was created, its modification was in service with the Strategic Missile Forces of the USSR. In 1957 he createdthe first rockets powered by stable fuel components.
- Creation of the first artificial satellite of our planet. S. P. Korolev developed it on the basis of a combat missile with a three- and four-stage carrier. As a result, on October 4, 1957, this Earth satellite was launched.
- Designing various satellites and launching vehicles to the moon. Among other things, he managed to develop a geophysical satellite, paired Elektron satellites and automatic stations to the Moon.
- Assembly of the manned spacecraft "Vostok-1", which made possible the world's first manned flight - Yu. A. Gagarin - in near-Earth orbit. For this, the Queen was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor for the second time.
Section 4. Love and space of a scientist
The Queen's first kiss with the girl of his dreams, oddly enough, happened on the roof. He lived in Odessa and fell in love with Xenia Vincentini, sought her favor for a long time, and only before leaving for the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute did he propose to her. Ksenia replied that she would wait until Sergei finished his studies. It so happened that she studied in Kharkov as a doctor, and he in Kyiv, and then in Moscow. Korolev constantly tried to get Xenia's consent to marriage, she resisted for several more years, but in the end she nevertheless became his wife, and Sergey took his beloved to Moscow.
However, unfortunately, shortly after this, Korolev quickly loses interest in his wife and becomes interested in other women. As a result, such adventures of her husband brought the woman tohaving a nervous breakdown and she decides to leave him. Their daughter Natasha found out about her "father's betrayals" at the age of 12, as a result, the crack between her daughter and father remained for the rest of his life.
It turns out that the famous Academician Queen could never become a loving and caring husband and father.
Section 5. Exhausting inner loneliness
Second wife - Nina - was not easier with his adventures. Sergei Pavlovich continued to disappear on indefinite business trips, suffering from loneliness.
He often turns to his wife for advice, writes letters to her, talks about his difficulties and experiences, eternal problems in his soul and work. But soon she begins to get bored with his eternal torments and confessions, she stops responding to them, and he feels even more alone.
Section 6. Case history and death
It all happened too suddenly. A man lived, worked for the good of the Motherland, glorified his country, when suddenly he was gone. There were no solemn speeches, no magnificent funerals, or even articles on the topic “S. P. Korolev, an academician of world renown, has passed away.”
Citizens of the USSR learned about what happened from the press. On January 16, 1966, the Pravda newspaper published a medical report on the cause of Korolev's death. It turned out that he had been ill for a long time, and several serious diseases plagued him at once: rectal sarcoma, atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis, sclerosis of the arteries of the brain and emphysema. Just on that day, Sergei Pavlovich was being escortedoperation to remove the tumor, but he died due to heart failure right on the operating table without regaining consciousness.
