Sergey Pavlovich Korolev is a scientist, designer, the main organizer of the production of rocket and space technology and rocket weapons of the USSR and the founder of practical astronautics.
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on January 12, 1907 (December 30, 1906 according to the Gregorian calendar) in Zhytomyr. My father worked as a teacher of Russian literature.
In 1922, the future scientist entered the Odessa Construction Vocational School, which he graduated after 2 years.
After that, in 1924, he became a student at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and in 1926 he transferred to the evening department of the Moscow Higher Technical School (MVTU).
In 1930, he defended his diploma project for a light-engine aircraft. After that, he received the qualification of a mechanical engineer.
Career
Korolev designed his first glider in the early 1920s. Subsequently, gliders of its design participated in All-Union gliding competitions and received high marks.
After graduating from the Moscow State Technical University, he worked at aviation industry enterprises.
In 1931, Korolev, together with Friedrich Zander, created one of the first rocket organizations in the USSR – the Group for the Study of Jet Propulsion. He supervised the construction and testing of missiles, and also worked on the project of a rocket plane – an apparatus that combined the features of an aircraft and a rocket.
In 1933, the scientist was appointed deputy head of the Jet Research Institute (RNDI). There he continued to develop missiles and a rocket plane, and also spoke at all-Union conferences with reports on the use of cruise missiles for the study of the stratosphere.
In 1938, Korolev was repressed and sentenced to a long prison sentence. At first, he served his sentence in Kolyma, and during World War II he worked in a special regime design bureau.
In 1944, he was released, and the next year he was sent to Germany. There, as part of the technical commission, he studied captured rocket technology.
From 1946 until the end of his life, Korolev was the chief designer of long-range ballistic missiles and rocket and space systems. Under his leadership, the Sputnik and Vostok launch vehicles, spacecraft, automatic interplanetary stations and specialized Earth satellites were created.
In 1957, under his leadership, the world’s first artificial Earth satellite was launched, and in 1961 – the first manned spacecraft Vostok. In particular, Korolev worked on the project of the H-1 lunar transport system.
From 1960 to 1966, he was a member of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences. In particular:
- twice received the title of Hero of Socialist Labor – in 1956 and 1961;
- in 1957 he became a laureate of the Lenin Prize;
- in 1958 he received the Gold Medal named after Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.
He was also awarded 2 Orders of Lenin, the Order of the Badge of Honor and medals.
Death
Korolev passed away on January 14, 1966.
Marital Status
He was married twice.
In August 1931, he married his former classmate Ksenia Vincentini. In 1935, they had a daughter, Natalia. In 1948, the couple divorced.
From 1949 to 1966, Korolev was married to Nina Kotenkova.
