The contributions of Fridrikh Tsander: a memoir (original) (raw)
NASA/ADS
Abstract
Soviet space pioneer Fridrikh Tsander (1887-1933) is a seminal figure in the earliest history of the theory and development of spaceflight. He saw himself as taking the theoretical groundwork laid at the turn of this century by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, and extending it to the practical reality of taking man into space. Tsander combined the ability to generate creative concepts for accomplishing his goals, and the tenacity to perform numerous experiments, with a dedication to organizing public support, particularly among youth, for his dream to go "Forward to Mars." Those young men he inspired and trained went on to make significant contributions to the Soviet space effort. The lack of knowledge today about his work is not due to any shortcomings on his part. Tsander died in 1933, at the age of 46, just at the moment that government support for large-scale rocket experiments was being realized, and dramatic breakthroughs could be made. Lacking such support throughout his life limited what Tsander was able to practically realize, but visionary concepts he originated are still being worked on today, such as the "combining" of aircraft and rockets for spaceflight. Those who worked with Tsander, and continued after him, including S.P. Korolev, readily acknowledge Fridrikh Tsander's central place in the history of astronautics.
Publication:
Acta Astronautica
Pub Date:
April 2003
DOI:
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