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Last Updated: August 1, 2007
This document is dated 5 July 1958 and was signed by Sergey P.
Korolev and Mikhail K. Tikhonravov. The report is a long-range
plan for Soviet exploration of space as envisioned at the time.
The request was sent to the USSR Council of Ministers for formal
approval. A number of these proposals were approved by a joint
decree of the USSR Council of Ministers and the Central Committee
of the Communist Party on 19 December 1959.
Korolev's official position at the time was:
Tikhonravov's official position at the time was:
Circumsolar space should be developed and colonized to the necessary extent by human beings. The first stage in the development of outer space should be its exploration by automatically controlled space vehicles for the purpose of studying in detail the conditions of flight in outer space and also methods of returning to earth.
Along with this, wide-scale research and development should be carried out towards securing normal living conditions for human beings in all stages of space flight, including both their descent to and ascent from the surface of the earth and of planets. For the completion of these tasks, along with the fullest use of existing technology, new types of rocket-propelled vehicles must be created, with whose aid it will be possible to resolve completely the tasks which we have indicated.
For these reasons it is advisable to lay out the research program in four sections.
I. The carrying out of researches on the basis of the intercontinental rocket R-7 and its three-stage modifications.
II. The creation of special new carrier rockets in order to provide further achievements in the development of outer space, and the construction of engines for them.
III. The carrying out of research in outer space on the basis of prospective new carrier rockets.
IV. The carrying out of scientific research work for the development
of interplanetary technology and a search for new, more perfected
ways of developing outer space.
I RESEARCHES ON THE BASIS OF THE INTERCONTINENTAL ROCKET R-7 WITH
THE THIRD STAGE
1. The creation of artificial satellites for research of outer space in the vicinity of earth:
a) The creation of oriented earth satellites put into orbit by means of carrier rockets which have a continuous active leg. These satellites are equipped with a special cassette in which information obtained and films should be returned to earth.
This work is to be completed in 1958-1960;
b) The creation of earth satellites with a virtually unlimited lifetime and period of operation.
This work is to be completed in 1961-1965.
c) The creation of earth satellites in "high" orbits, which are put into orbit by carrier rockets with activation of the third stage at the peak of the transitional ellipse (putting them into orbit with "an afterburn.")
This work is to be completed in 1961-1965.
2. The creation of vehicles for exploration of the moon:
a) The creation of a research station (10-20 kg), equipped with solar batteries and radio equipment, which can be landed on the surface of the moon. In order to secure the landing of the station on the moon, the last stage of the carrier rocket should be equipped with systems of orientation and of landing control.
This work to be completed in 1958-1961;
b) The creation of an artificial moon satellite for the purpose of photographing its surface (and composing a map).
This work to be completed in 1959-1961:
c) The creation of an earth satellite which would fly around the moon, and be able to drop to the surface of the earth a cassette with information, film, etc.
All the researches of the moon which we have projected would be carried out on the basis of the R-7 rocket with the third stage, and with a special additional fourth stage, which would be specialized for each task.
This work is to be completed in 1960-1964.
3. The creation of the first manned satellites on the basis of using the ballistic system of re-entry. The work would be carried out in the following stages:
a) The development of a system of thermal protection for the re-entry vehicle using models installed in the nose cone of the R-7 rocket. The launch is carried out in a low-angle trajectory.
b) The creation and development of a re-entry vehicle, and its launching by means of the rocket R-7 in a low-angle trajectory (without putting the vehicle into orbit).
c) The creation of a satellite and its launching by means of three-stage carrier rockets on the basis of the R-7 rocket. The satellite would be placed in orbit and would have an operating time of ten 24-hour periods.
This work is to be completed in 1958-1960.
4. The creation of a manned satellite on the basis of using the gliding system of re-entry.
This work is to be completed 1959-1965.
5. Research of the possibilities for creating automatically controlled vehicles on the basis of the R-7 rocket, for carrying out flights to Mars and Venus and subsequent return to the vicinity of the earth, for the purpose of photographing Mars and Venus from relatively close distances, and of researching the conditions of radio communication at very great distances. Transmission of the information would be carried out by the radio-television method.
This work is to be completed in 1959-1961.
6. The development of a procedure for the rendezvous of two space vehicles moving in orbits which are close to each other. This requires preliminary scientific research work (see Section IV).
This work to be completed 1962-1966
II. THE CREATION OF NEW CARRIER ROCKETS AS BASES FOR THE FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE FLIGHTS AND OF RESEARCH
1. The creation of a new space carrier rocket which will place in orbit a payload weighing 15-20 tons. This rocket should make possible the further development of outer space, the creation of a station in outer space, and open the way towards the realization of interplanetary flights.
This work is to be completed by 1963-1964.
2. The creation of an ionic (or other) propulsion system for
the purpose of providing interplanetary flights and the flight
of human beings to the moon and to the closer planets.
III. RESEARCH ON THE BASIS OF NEW SPACE CARRIER ROCKETS
1. The creation of a satellite with a 2-3-man crew for the purpose of optimizing the conditions of the prolonged presence of human beings in outer space and for researching the main problems of the creation of a satellite-station.
This work is to be completed in 1961-1965.
2. The creation of a space ship with an ionic propulsion system which would provide for manned flights around the moon, and the return of the ship to earth or into the orbit of a temporary space station.
This work is to be completed in 1961-1965.
3. The creation of an automatic space vehicle for carrying out flights to Mars and Venus, with its subsequent return to the vicinity of the earth and transmission of information by radio and television, for the purpose of exploring the surfaces of these planets.
This work is to be completed in 1963-1966.
4. The establishment of artificial colonies in outer space (interplanetary stations):
a) The setting up of a station in outer space in order to carry out scientific research for the purpose of:
-Studying the long-term effect of the conditions of weightlessness or artificial gravity on the development of plants, animals, and human beings;
-Studying the long-term effect of various types of radiation on the development of plant and animal organisms.
This work to begin in 1962;
b) The creation of a station in outer space as a receiving and sending point for space rockets, for the purpose of:
-assembling interorbital vehicles;
-creating a center for communication with the earth by means of transport rockets;
-the reception of returning interorbital vehicles.
This work to begin in 1962.
After the above-indicated tasks have been completed the following tasks can subsequently be organized:
-manned flights to Mars and Venus;
-manned flights to the moon, with landing on the moon and return to earth;
-setting up a continuously operating station-colony on the moon
(beginning of research work in 1960).
IV. BASIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS
1. Research of the prospects of using rockets with chemical fuel, and atomic rockets with large payload weights, for communication with artificial satellites and space stations.
This work to be carried out in 1959-1960.
2. Research on the prospects of using interorbital vehicles with low propulsion and a large power supply (with ionic, plasmajet and other engines).
This work to be carried out in 1959-1960.
3. Resolution of the task of carrying out rendezvous between vehicles in outer space. After theoretical researches experimental testing is necessary (see Section I).
This work to be carried out in 1958-1961.
4. Development of technology for the assembly and construction of space stations and of special carrier rockets, whose airframes can be used as ready-made sections of the station.
This work to be carried out in 1959-1963.
5. Research of the possibilities of providing a closed cycle of vital activity in a limited space. Research on the creation of space suits.
This work to be carried out in 1960-1965.
6. The development of power systems to provide for the needs of space stations and interorbital vehicles.
This work to be carried out in 1958-1962.
7. Research of the prospects of using radio communication at very great distances and the investigation of new methods of communication.
This work to be carried out in 1959-1965.
N o t e s: 1. In the present section only some of the scientific research work has been indicated; without a doubt all of the themes in Sections I-III will be accompanied by a whole series of corresponding scientific research projects.
2. All the periods of completion have been named purely on a preliminary basis.
3. The present material has not been discussed and coordinated
with the main developers,-- which must be done subsequently.
S. Korolev,
M. Tikhonravov
5 July 1958
Last Updated: August 1, 2007