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  Sergei Korolev's role in the Soviet R-7 rocket

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Author Topic:   Sergei Korolev's role in the Soviet R-7 rocket
DFBrunswick
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Posts: 40
From: California, USA
Registered: May 2015

posted 06-15-2017 02:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DFBrunswick   Click Here to Email DFBrunswick     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Chief Designer of Soviet spacecraft, Sergei Korolev designed the Sputnik satellites, the Vostok and Soyuz spacecrafts and designed the first ICBM — the R-7. But Korolev apparently could not design rocket engines. Valentin Glushko was the designer of the rocket engines used on the R-7 missile.

But Korolev is always credited with being the designer of the R-7. Is it not more appropriate to say that the R-7 was designed by Korolev and Glushko? And more precisely, what were the major components of the R-7 that Korolev should be credited with?

dom
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Registered: Aug 2001

posted 06-15-2017 04:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dom   Click Here to Email dom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think it's best to think of Korolev as a brilliant project manager just like von Braun. Glushko provided the engines, whilst Mikhail Tikhonravov came up with the unique "packet rocket" stage design of the R-7. Korolev created the R-7 just like von Braun "created" the Saturn V.

DFBrunswick
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Posts: 40
From: California, USA
Registered: May 2015

posted 06-16-2017 02:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DFBrunswick   Click Here to Email DFBrunswick     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think that is a great way to describe Korolev — as a project manager.

I am still curious to know what engineering elements of the R-7 or any spacecraft such as the Vostok and the Soyuz that Korolev deserves credit on.

dom
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posted 06-16-2017 11:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for dom   Click Here to Email dom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
All the answers are in James Harford's definitive biography "Korolev: How One Man Masterminded the Soviet Drive to Beat America to the Moon."

There's one detailed chapter in that excellent book that will explain it far better than I ever could. Well worth getting a copy if you're seriously interested in Korolev!

Jim Behling
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Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010

posted 06-16-2017 12:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jim Behling   Click Here to Email Jim Behling     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DFBrunswick:
Is it not more appropriate to say that the R-7 was designed by Korolev and Glushko?
Engine designers are not credited with rocket design.

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