If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
(Isaák Yúdovich Ozímov)
For their second mission in 1950, the Prerow rocket scientists had prepared a special stunt. Once the Russian NASA had launched a new manned mission, one would shoot up Raumschrat-4, so that two manned missions were going to circle around the globe simultaneously.
The NASA mission happened to be Kósmos-1, the first launch in the new series that aimed at establishing a space station. It consisted of a Nosítelnitsa-A launch vehicle and a twin pack of space crafts, a smaller Kuryér capsule that accommodated two space farers, and a larger Kósmos capsule that was destined to be parked in a stable 400 kilometre orbit – as initial module of the planned space station.
The Kósmos-1 launch occurred on September 21st, 1950. Getting up, however, was the easier part of the mission. Placing the Kósmos capsule went without problems. The difficult part was now steering Kuryér-1 back to earth. But before Kuryér-1 could even break away from Kósmos-1, Prerow announced the launch of Raumschrat-4.
In Achinsk, a certain panic erupted. What were these crazy Nyemtsi doing? One had no previous experience with navigating a craft in space, all earlier launches had been strictly ballistic. The whole sequence of rocket boosts had been calculated with painstaking accuracy. And now, the madmen in Prerow were creating a mess.
Of course, Kósmos-1 and Raumschrat-4 were farther away from each other than any objects on earth could ever be. There was no danger of a collision at all. Nevertheless, one had missed the original separation moment. Everything had to be calculated again...
If Prerow had intended to upstage Achinsk, they had made a hit. The international media were concentrating on the fact that two manned missions were in space at the same time. The Russian plan to start the construction of a space station was plumb forgotten.
The Raumschrat-4 crew, Oberleutnant Werner Laufer and Leutnant zur See Erwin Markwart, were conducting a series of navigational manoeuvres in low orbit, guided by radio signals from the ground. It was a clear progress over previous missions; the RRA was evidently gaining knowledge in space navigation.
After sixteen hours in space, the Raumschrat-4 mission returned safely to earth. – Until then, the Kuryér-1 crew, Rótmistr Ivan M. Sporkin and Poruchik Pyotr G. Sosslov, had been held in suspension. With the confusing Germans gone, the Russians went to action again. They relied on pre-figured firing sequences triggered by radio signals from the ground, a similar approach like in earlier German missions.
It worked, but not entirely as scheduled. Sporkin and Sosslov landed safely, but about 1,500 kilometres off the mark. It took the rescue crews more than thirty hours to find the Kuryér capsule in the Siberian taiga. In Achinsk, one was relieved. The most difficult task had been mastered – well, in principle. In compensation, one had lost the PR battle. But the first module of the space station was in orbit now. Once the second module had been placed, one could permanently man Kósmos. That would more than balance the books...
(Isaák Yúdovich Ozímov)
For their second mission in 1950, the Prerow rocket scientists had prepared a special stunt. Once the Russian NASA had launched a new manned mission, one would shoot up Raumschrat-4, so that two manned missions were going to circle around the globe simultaneously.
The NASA mission happened to be Kósmos-1, the first launch in the new series that aimed at establishing a space station. It consisted of a Nosítelnitsa-A launch vehicle and a twin pack of space crafts, a smaller Kuryér capsule that accommodated two space farers, and a larger Kósmos capsule that was destined to be parked in a stable 400 kilometre orbit – as initial module of the planned space station.
The Kósmos-1 launch occurred on September 21st, 1950. Getting up, however, was the easier part of the mission. Placing the Kósmos capsule went without problems. The difficult part was now steering Kuryér-1 back to earth. But before Kuryér-1 could even break away from Kósmos-1, Prerow announced the launch of Raumschrat-4.
In Achinsk, a certain panic erupted. What were these crazy Nyemtsi doing? One had no previous experience with navigating a craft in space, all earlier launches had been strictly ballistic. The whole sequence of rocket boosts had been calculated with painstaking accuracy. And now, the madmen in Prerow were creating a mess.
Of course, Kósmos-1 and Raumschrat-4 were farther away from each other than any objects on earth could ever be. There was no danger of a collision at all. Nevertheless, one had missed the original separation moment. Everything had to be calculated again...
If Prerow had intended to upstage Achinsk, they had made a hit. The international media were concentrating on the fact that two manned missions were in space at the same time. The Russian plan to start the construction of a space station was plumb forgotten.
The Raumschrat-4 crew, Oberleutnant Werner Laufer and Leutnant zur See Erwin Markwart, were conducting a series of navigational manoeuvres in low orbit, guided by radio signals from the ground. It was a clear progress over previous missions; the RRA was evidently gaining knowledge in space navigation.
After sixteen hours in space, the Raumschrat-4 mission returned safely to earth. – Until then, the Kuryér-1 crew, Rótmistr Ivan M. Sporkin and Poruchik Pyotr G. Sosslov, had been held in suspension. With the confusing Germans gone, the Russians went to action again. They relied on pre-figured firing sequences triggered by radio signals from the ground, a similar approach like in earlier German missions.
It worked, but not entirely as scheduled. Sporkin and Sosslov landed safely, but about 1,500 kilometres off the mark. It took the rescue crews more than thirty hours to find the Kuryér capsule in the Siberian taiga. In Achinsk, one was relieved. The most difficult task had been mastered – well, in principle. In compensation, one had lost the PR battle. But the first module of the space station was in orbit now. Once the second module had been placed, one could permanently man Kósmos. That would more than balance the books...