Outstanding scientist and designer of missiles and space-rocket technology

Аuthors

Leonov A. G.

Military industrial corporation «NPO Mashinostroyenia», 33, Gagarina str., Reutov, Moscow region, 143966, Russia

e-mail: vpk@npomash.ru

Abstract

This article is devoted to the 100-year anniversary from the birthday of one of the most outstanding scientists and designers in the field of missile and rocket-and-space technology, Vladimir Nikolayevich Chelomey.
The area of his scientific interests is analysis which is linked with practical realization of technical systems and complexes created by him and meant to assure the countrys defence capability.
Three main areas of V.N.Chelomey activity as the designer of missile and rocket-and-space technology are identified, namely:

• weapon systems with cruise missiles,
• weapon systems with ballistic missiles,
• systems with manned and unmanned spacecraft.

Examples are given for most important technical solutions such as unfolding of missile wing during the flight which has become worldwide common practice in cruise missiles creation. Operational advantages of such solution are obvious.
A systematic approach to creation of a marine defence system is illustrated by an example of creating a sea reconnaissance and target acquisition system for the Navy. In fact, it was the first time in the world when a reconnaissance and strike system, which included systems with cruise missiles and reconnaissance spacecraft, was created.
Experience accumulated during a creation of launch vehicle designed for the sea reconnaissance and target acquisition spacecraft helped to create an intercontinental ballistic missile. Big-scale production of such ICBMs made it possible to achieve strategic parity with the USA both in quantity of ICBMs and in quantity of warheads.
Photographs show Almaz system orbital mannedstation and Proton heavy launch vehicle. Crews such as Pavel Popovich and Yury Artyukhin, Boris Volynov and Vitaly Zholobov, Victor Gorbatko and Yury Glazkov performed a lot of work on board of Almaz stations and proved correctness of design solutions adopted while creating these stations.
Time period of V.N.Chelomey formation as a scientist, a designer and a statesman is period when he was a USSR Supreme Soviet deputy.
The basic principle of V.N. Chelomey school formation is focused on the ability to put the accumulated knowledge to practical use and move it with courage to the desired goal.

Keywords:

scientist, designer, cruise missiles, space vehicles, spacecraft, ballistic missiles, launch vehicles, weapon systems, manned space stations

References

1. 60 let samootverzhennogo truda vo imya mira (60 years of dedicated work for the sake of World), Moscow, Oruzhie i tekhnologii, 2004, 332 p.
2. Efremov G.A. Yarkii sled krylatogo «Meteorita» (Bright trace of winged «Meteorite»), Moscow, Betretdinov i Ko, 2012, 248 p.