| Introduction: This was a Alternate Cold War story publish in Alternate History.com in 2014 Sadly over years thing went not so well and my co-authors lost interest or had not time anymore. Next to that happen Apple Tv Series "For All Mankind" and demand re issue the TL I have decided to reworking, re-writing, re-editing this Alternate History for this Forum as a Solo project. I hope you enjoy it. Prologue Once upon a time, there was a young engineer in Soviet Union who had just finished his studies at the Ukrainian Academy of Science in 1958. He sent his application to several OKBs (Russian abbreviation for Experimental Design Bureau). Some looked at his resume and qualifications and threw away his request, other put it in deposit in case they could not find a more experienced engineer, but then, finally, one OKB realised who this young man really was and hire him on spot! The name of this young Soviet engineer was Sergei Khrushchev, son of Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier of Soviet Union and General Secretary of the Communist Party. With Sergei's new job is at OKB-1, his boss Sergei Korolev now had an excellent connection to the very top of the Soviet political hierarchy... |
2001: A Space-Time Odyssey - Solo Mission
- Thread starter Michel Van
- Start date
Part 1: R-9 vs R-16
Mitrofan Nedelin played a key role in ushering in the space age by concluding that rockets were the ideal means to deliver a nuclear warhead to enemy,
Instead of bombers and ordered Sergei Korolev to develop the massive R-7 ICBM.
But this rocket and its derivatives, was powerful enough to launch Sputnik and Vostok manned space vehicles into orbit enabling the USSR to beat the US to space.
but it was never an effective ICBM!
So the Soviet Strategic Rocket Force wanted a better, usable ICBM launcher they could use from protective Silos.
With the success of first tactical missile using storable fuels, it became obvious the new generation ICBM have use them
So Milhail Yangel OKB-589 ordered the development of the R-16 using Toxic nitric acid and UDMH fuel.
But Korolev abhorred those fuels would be "playing with devil" and prefer cleaner Liquid oxygen and Kerosine.
He got permission to build a backup system in case the R-16 project failed: The R-9.
Actually Gluchko's OKB-456 was to build rocket engines for R-16 and R-9,
But Korolev hated him and refused his offer, using his growing influence to instead have team up with Kuznetsov OKB-276 for engines.
Despite pressure to perform all safety tests before October 7th (the day of the Bolshevik revolution)
The vehicle thoroughly tested even after the date, the last thing Nedeplin needed was a failed launch !
Luckily all went well as the rocket soared into the sky. While the launch was not without it's faults (coming somewhat short of the intended range)
The success was more than any of the hundreds of engineers had hoped for.
While the R-16 R&D went well, the R-9 experienced problems with it’s NK-9 engines.
OKB-276 just start to build rocket engine and had not experience like it rival OKB-456, what let to violent explosion on test stand.
On April 9, 1961, the first R-9 made test launch. 54 second into flight a fire broke out in engine Nr. 4 leading to the destruction of the R-9
The second test launch in May ended in a disaster as engine Nr. 6 exploded 20 second after launch.
OKB-1 started to check the delivery NK-9 engines and found faulty welds, metal shavings in turbo pump, fuel lines and Injector-plates.
Kuznetsov made his best to increase the production standards and to push for better quality control on rocket engines.
And with success, on October 25, 1961. The third R-9 launch went good following which the R-9 started a series of launches for it qualification.
By this time it was too late for the R-9 project, In same time the R-16 start make impressive results,
On August 1961 the R-16s were being deployed as operational ICBMs all along the Soviet Union,
The R-16 would be used in mass for several years untill it's retirement.
The R-9 stay as reserve force in case, all R-16 had to be fired in case of War, were they came too close in October 1961
Final end of R-9 came on October 24 1963, with LC-70 silo disaster. A oxygen tank leak in the Silo fueling system, let to a blaze killing seven men of the launch crew.
The R-9 was pullt out of Service, Sergei Korolev accepted the failure of R-9, he was busy for moment with a important projects for Soviet Union.
The real winner of the entire R-9 ordeal was Kuznetsov's OKB-276, which with each error learned more and more how to build rockets engines
and that would be quit handy for a future Korolev/Soviet Space project.
Notes:
in 1938 Korolev was deliberately accused and send to gulag camp later he works as prisoner under Gluchko at OKB-16,
Here became the former friends mortal rivals and enemies.
The Nedelin Tragedy is famous in rocket history for being one of the worst launch failures ever. 120 people died,
the program was delayed by a year and was covered up untill 1989.
Here in Story the launch is successful because took more time for testing.
Without the Nedelin Tragedy, the R-16 becomes a commonly deployed ICBM.
With the Soviet Union more reliant on ICBMs they never need to deploy IRBMs in Cuba and the Cuban Missile crisis never happens.
The results of this will become clearer later in the story
Korolev was forced to work with Glushko who built the rocket engines for the R-9 rather than Kuznetsov, which lead to problems when the Kuznetsov completely inexperienced with rocket engines, was tasked with designing, building, testing and launching the NK-15 engines years later for the N-1 project.
In story with greater influence in the Soviet leadership, Korolev is able to get his way and isn't forced to cooperate with Glushko, whom Korolev hated.
Mitrofan Nedelin played a key role in ushering in the space age by concluding that rockets were the ideal means to deliver a nuclear warhead to enemy,
Instead of bombers and ordered Sergei Korolev to develop the massive R-7 ICBM.
But this rocket and its derivatives, was powerful enough to launch Sputnik and Vostok manned space vehicles into orbit enabling the USSR to beat the US to space.
but it was never an effective ICBM!
So the Soviet Strategic Rocket Force wanted a better, usable ICBM launcher they could use from protective Silos.
With the success of first tactical missile using storable fuels, it became obvious the new generation ICBM have use them
So Milhail Yangel OKB-589 ordered the development of the R-16 using Toxic nitric acid and UDMH fuel.
But Korolev abhorred those fuels would be "playing with devil" and prefer cleaner Liquid oxygen and Kerosine.
He got permission to build a backup system in case the R-16 project failed: The R-9.
Actually Gluchko's OKB-456 was to build rocket engines for R-16 and R-9,
But Korolev hated him and refused his offer, using his growing influence to instead have team up with Kuznetsov OKB-276 for engines.
Despite pressure to perform all safety tests before October 7th (the day of the Bolshevik revolution)
The vehicle thoroughly tested even after the date, the last thing Nedeplin needed was a failed launch !
Luckily all went well as the rocket soared into the sky. While the launch was not without it's faults (coming somewhat short of the intended range)
The success was more than any of the hundreds of engineers had hoped for.
While the R-16 R&D went well, the R-9 experienced problems with it’s NK-9 engines.
OKB-276 just start to build rocket engine and had not experience like it rival OKB-456, what let to violent explosion on test stand.
On April 9, 1961, the first R-9 made test launch. 54 second into flight a fire broke out in engine Nr. 4 leading to the destruction of the R-9
The second test launch in May ended in a disaster as engine Nr. 6 exploded 20 second after launch.
OKB-1 started to check the delivery NK-9 engines and found faulty welds, metal shavings in turbo pump, fuel lines and Injector-plates.
Kuznetsov made his best to increase the production standards and to push for better quality control on rocket engines.
And with success, on October 25, 1961. The third R-9 launch went good following which the R-9 started a series of launches for it qualification.
By this time it was too late for the R-9 project, In same time the R-16 start make impressive results,
On August 1961 the R-16s were being deployed as operational ICBMs all along the Soviet Union,
The R-16 would be used in mass for several years untill it's retirement.
The R-9 stay as reserve force in case, all R-16 had to be fired in case of War, were they came too close in October 1961
Final end of R-9 came on October 24 1963, with LC-70 silo disaster. A oxygen tank leak in the Silo fueling system, let to a blaze killing seven men of the launch crew.
The R-9 was pullt out of Service, Sergei Korolev accepted the failure of R-9, he was busy for moment with a important projects for Soviet Union.
The real winner of the entire R-9 ordeal was Kuznetsov's OKB-276, which with each error learned more and more how to build rockets engines
and that would be quit handy for a future Korolev/Soviet Space project.
Notes:
in 1938 Korolev was deliberately accused and send to gulag camp later he works as prisoner under Gluchko at OKB-16,
Here became the former friends mortal rivals and enemies.
The Nedelin Tragedy is famous in rocket history for being one of the worst launch failures ever. 120 people died,
the program was delayed by a year and was covered up untill 1989.
Here in Story the launch is successful because took more time for testing.
Without the Nedelin Tragedy, the R-16 becomes a commonly deployed ICBM.
With the Soviet Union more reliant on ICBMs they never need to deploy IRBMs in Cuba and the Cuban Missile crisis never happens.
The results of this will become clearer later in the story
Korolev was forced to work with Glushko who built the rocket engines for the R-9 rather than Kuznetsov, which lead to problems when the Kuznetsov completely inexperienced with rocket engines, was tasked with designing, building, testing and launching the NK-15 engines years later for the N-1 project.
In story with greater influence in the Soviet leadership, Korolev is able to get his way and isn't forced to cooperate with Glushko, whom Korolev hated.
Last edited:
The Original versions of TL was cooperation work between me, SpaceGeek and later SouthernWind
but over time, SpaceGeek went to university and after while not more present in this forum...
This is my Version of 2001: A Space-Time Odyssey
were i write it alone as a Solo mission...
The original’s more like the authors sort of feeling their way around space althist but it’s the only timeline I know of where the UR-700 flies. The second is quite good and recommendable.
Part 2 - 1961: The Year the World almost faced Nuclear War twice !
February 9, 1961. An IL-18 plane carrying Leonid Brezhnev on board.
At the time he was acting as the nominal head of state of the Soviet Union and on a state visit to the Africa Guinea Republic.
Do navigation error the plane enter French-Algerian airspace.
Because the Civil-War there, the French military suspected that IL-18 was a weapon transporter for FLN rebels,
and send Vautour fighter jets to intercept the airplane.
The IL-18 Pilots believing there outside French airspace, first ignored the french Vautour.
until one of french Pilot open fire, to force Aircraft to follow them, unfortunate damaging the Il-18.
The pilots try to reach Morocco airfield but crash in desert killing all onboard !
The dead of Leonid Brezhnev was shock for Soviet politburo, who consider this as act of barbarism,
The French Government apologise, but insisted that Brezhnev's plane strayed into French-Algerian airspace.
But Prime-minister Michel Debrè manage this so badly, that Khrushchev put a ultimatum to De Gaulle:
Extradite those Responsible of this political assassination to Soviet or else the Soviet union will retaliate.
and suddenly this became a World Crisis !
The situation was hopeless, France had Nuclear bomb prototypes, but no delivery system for them.
Kennedy declared DEFCON 2 and mobilised the NATO forces in case the Soviets really was preparing to attack,
While the U.N. try to defuse the situation.
But before the situation escalated to a full war, De Gaulle extradite Michel Debrè to Soviet embassy in Paris.
He was transported to Moscow and charge in 1962 and sentenced to life in Prison.
(and allot french were happy he was gone, Debrè was after all one of most unpopular politician in France)
France ended up after this crisis deeper in NATO as De Gaulle wanted.
While the British made demands: let UK join the European Economic Community in exchange for full support for France in NATO.
April 12, 1961 one biggest moments in History, Yuri Gagarin, became the first man in space.
The Next crisis came just days later on 17 April. The Bay of Pigs invasion happened in Cuba, the moment Fidel Castro announce that the invasion had failed,
Nikita Khrushchev declared that Cuba is now under the nuclear protection of USSR,
threatening the use of ICBMs to defend the country for any aggressor.
On May 4th, 1961 Alan Shepard became the first American in space on his suborbital Mercury
Follow on May 25th, with Kennedy "we choose go to the moon" speech starting the Moon race.
Then the East Germans started the construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13. The other major crisis of that year.
It's zenith came on October 27, when US and Soviet tanks and infantry held a standoff at Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.
During the tensest hours, the World watched as they stood on the edge of Nuclear War again, which, luckily, did not happen.
Thankfully nothing even approaching the crisis period of this year would happen in the rest of the Cold War.
But it was a wakeup call in Washington D.C. and Moscow,
When allot of politician were asking „Do we need to play the Nuclear Card in this Game ?“
The next 3 years the Kennedy Administration and Politburo started negotiation for treaties.
Even after murder of J.F. Kennedy, President Johnson completed it, resulting in:
-Installation of “Red Phone“ line between Washington D.C. and Moscow (Telephone, Telex, later Videophone and computer links)
-Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (only underground testing. No testing on surface, in air, ocean or space or other planets )
-Voluntary Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (V-SALT) limiting the total number of ICBM, Bombers, SLBM.
Aftermath
V-SALT brought allot financial savings: the USA retired the Atlas and Titan ICBM earlier in favour of Minutemen,
While the USSR focused on the R-16 ICBM.
France started Nuclear armament in the H-bomb, Missile, MRBM, Bomber and SLBM Submarines.
For Next 20 years France and USSR relationship was ultra cold, until socialist François Mitterrand became French President.
The Swiss vote in plebiscite for nuclear Weapon program for self-defence in 1962.
February 9, 1961. An IL-18 plane carrying Leonid Brezhnev on board.
At the time he was acting as the nominal head of state of the Soviet Union and on a state visit to the Africa Guinea Republic.
Do navigation error the plane enter French-Algerian airspace.
Because the Civil-War there, the French military suspected that IL-18 was a weapon transporter for FLN rebels,
and send Vautour fighter jets to intercept the airplane.
The IL-18 Pilots believing there outside French airspace, first ignored the french Vautour.
until one of french Pilot open fire, to force Aircraft to follow them, unfortunate damaging the Il-18.
The pilots try to reach Morocco airfield but crash in desert killing all onboard !
The dead of Leonid Brezhnev was shock for Soviet politburo, who consider this as act of barbarism,
The French Government apologise, but insisted that Brezhnev's plane strayed into French-Algerian airspace.
But Prime-minister Michel Debrè manage this so badly, that Khrushchev put a ultimatum to De Gaulle:
Extradite those Responsible of this political assassination to Soviet or else the Soviet union will retaliate.
and suddenly this became a World Crisis !
The situation was hopeless, France had Nuclear bomb prototypes, but no delivery system for them.
Kennedy declared DEFCON 2 and mobilised the NATO forces in case the Soviets really was preparing to attack,
While the U.N. try to defuse the situation.
But before the situation escalated to a full war, De Gaulle extradite Michel Debrè to Soviet embassy in Paris.
He was transported to Moscow and charge in 1962 and sentenced to life in Prison.
(and allot french were happy he was gone, Debrè was after all one of most unpopular politician in France)
France ended up after this crisis deeper in NATO as De Gaulle wanted.
While the British made demands: let UK join the European Economic Community in exchange for full support for France in NATO.
April 12, 1961 one biggest moments in History, Yuri Gagarin, became the first man in space.
The Next crisis came just days later on 17 April. The Bay of Pigs invasion happened in Cuba, the moment Fidel Castro announce that the invasion had failed,
Nikita Khrushchev declared that Cuba is now under the nuclear protection of USSR,
threatening the use of ICBMs to defend the country for any aggressor.
On May 4th, 1961 Alan Shepard became the first American in space on his suborbital Mercury
Follow on May 25th, with Kennedy "we choose go to the moon" speech starting the Moon race.
Then the East Germans started the construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13. The other major crisis of that year.
It's zenith came on October 27, when US and Soviet tanks and infantry held a standoff at Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.
During the tensest hours, the World watched as they stood on the edge of Nuclear War again, which, luckily, did not happen.
Thankfully nothing even approaching the crisis period of this year would happen in the rest of the Cold War.
But it was a wakeup call in Washington D.C. and Moscow,
When allot of politician were asking „Do we need to play the Nuclear Card in this Game ?“
The next 3 years the Kennedy Administration and Politburo started negotiation for treaties.
Even after murder of J.F. Kennedy, President Johnson completed it, resulting in:
-Installation of “Red Phone“ line between Washington D.C. and Moscow (Telephone, Telex, later Videophone and computer links)
-Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (only underground testing. No testing on surface, in air, ocean or space or other planets )
-Voluntary Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (V-SALT) limiting the total number of ICBM, Bombers, SLBM.
Aftermath
V-SALT brought allot financial savings: the USA retired the Atlas and Titan ICBM earlier in favour of Minutemen,
While the USSR focused on the R-16 ICBM.
France started Nuclear armament in the H-bomb, Missile, MRBM, Bomber and SLBM Submarines.
For Next 20 years France and USSR relationship was ultra cold, until socialist François Mitterrand became French President.
The Swiss vote in plebiscite for nuclear Weapon program for self-defence in 1962.
i working for mommet on 1990s and 2000s part of TL
wait on 1980s section of TL it will be fun...
There will be illustrations
But not all post will have picture or illustrations
and confine to the 3 picture rule of this Forum
Wait so what's the main point of deviation that causes Russia to land on the Moon first?
like Prolog say Sergei Khrushchev, son of Nikita Khrushchev, (the Premier of Soviet Union)
get Job at Sergei Korolev OKB-1 instead Vladimir Chelomei OKB-52.
giving Korolev better connection to Khrushchev
Already in part 1 deviate the Soviet rocket programs other path.
more will be explain in detail.
Part 3 - The Ministry of General Machine-Building Industry of USSR
The launch of Sputnik in 1957 started the Space Race between USA and USSR.
Four years later the Soviet launch first human into Space and back alive, with Yuri Gagarin became a new kind of Hero !
The American try to follow with Suborbital Mercury flights, but With Gherman Titov one day in space
Making the US flights ridiculously trivial, in 1962 the first Mercury went into Orbit with John Glenn.
After Brezhnev incident and failed Cuba Invasion and success of Soviet in space, became J.F.Kennedy be under pressure to take action,
So on May 25, he held the famous "We choose go to the Moon" speech starting the Moon Race.
At first Nikita Khrushchev believed this was some kind of joke.
But his son and Sergei Korolev make very clear that Americans are serious and able to put a man on Moon!
So Khrushchev demanded a counter program to put a Soviet on Moon, but here the Problems startet.
While USA had the military USAF and civilian NASA for such program,
Was the soviet space flight activity, let us say chaotic:
Next Rivalry between the Soviet design bureaus, who fight for lucrative contracts at any cost.
Was also rivalry between Air Force and Strategic Rocket Force over Manned space flights vs only ICBM.
Nikita Khrushchev was well informed by his son about this Mess.
So began the Politburo to centralise the soviet space flight activity under a new Ministry.
That coordinate the civilian and military spaceflight programs, while Strategic Rocket Force keep control over their missiles.
The Ministry would become responsible for developing the new launch vehicles, ballistic missiles and payloads for the military and civilian applications.
Also Cooperate the new Ministry with the Fourth Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense, Agat, NII Khimash, TsNIIMASH and NIITI.
Georgiy A. Tyulin was chosen as the head of the new Ministry called:
"Ministry of General Machine-Building Industry of USSR" Министерство общего машиностроения СССР (MoM for short)
This name was chosen to fool foreign secret services.
MoM started evaluation of current running programs, planned and proposed concepts.
The Moon program L-1 to L-3 were put on priority,
Development of Space Probe for Moon, Mars, Venus and beyond
Study for manned orbital station as next steps
Study for moon base and manned interplanetary travel as such was considered a long-term with low priority for moment.
But not all were happy with new situation, like Gluchko who keep his OKB-456 independent under protection of Strategic Rocket Force.
The other was Vladimir Chelomei OKB-52 who saw allot of his program getting cancelled by MoM.
Like the light UR-200 and UR-500 heavy ICBM, victims of V-SALT , L-1 lunar flyby, Kosmoplan and others
It was Chelomei own fault, who aggressively promoted his proposals, with defamation about his Rivals, also his Arrogant way was not helpful in this.
Also was Tyulin in Clinch with marshal Nedelin, how insisted that only Yangel OKB-586 build ICBM for Strategic Rocket Force,
with engines build by Gluchko OKB-456.
So started the Moonrace
Notes:
Agat, NII Khimash, TsNIIMASH and NIITI, are various science and Research institutes in Soviet Union.
The UR-200 was light ICBM stored in Launch container for easy replacement in Silo. a Similar system was used on R-16 and R-36 in TL
The UR-500 was project for a Heavy ICBM that delivers a 100 mega ton H-bomb, tested as the Tsar-bomba in 1961.
But events of 1961 and the Voluntary Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (V-SALT) terminated the Tsar and Heavy ICBM program.
The launch of Sputnik in 1957 started the Space Race between USA and USSR.
Four years later the Soviet launch first human into Space and back alive, with Yuri Gagarin became a new kind of Hero !
The American try to follow with Suborbital Mercury flights, but With Gherman Titov one day in space
Making the US flights ridiculously trivial, in 1962 the first Mercury went into Orbit with John Glenn.
After Brezhnev incident and failed Cuba Invasion and success of Soviet in space, became J.F.Kennedy be under pressure to take action,
So on May 25, he held the famous "We choose go to the Moon" speech starting the Moon Race.
At first Nikita Khrushchev believed this was some kind of joke.
But his son and Sergei Korolev make very clear that Americans are serious and able to put a man on Moon!
So Khrushchev demanded a counter program to put a Soviet on Moon, but here the Problems startet.
While USA had the military USAF and civilian NASA for such program,
Was the soviet space flight activity, let us say chaotic:
Next Rivalry between the Soviet design bureaus, who fight for lucrative contracts at any cost.
Was also rivalry between Air Force and Strategic Rocket Force over Manned space flights vs only ICBM.
Nikita Khrushchev was well informed by his son about this Mess.
So began the Politburo to centralise the soviet space flight activity under a new Ministry.
That coordinate the civilian and military spaceflight programs, while Strategic Rocket Force keep control over their missiles.
The Ministry would become responsible for developing the new launch vehicles, ballistic missiles and payloads for the military and civilian applications.
Also Cooperate the new Ministry with the Fourth Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense, Agat, NII Khimash, TsNIIMASH and NIITI.
Georgiy A. Tyulin was chosen as the head of the new Ministry called:
"Ministry of General Machine-Building Industry of USSR" Министерство общего машиностроения СССР (MoM for short)
This name was chosen to fool foreign secret services.
MoM started evaluation of current running programs, planned and proposed concepts.
The Moon program L-1 to L-3 were put on priority,
Development of Space Probe for Moon, Mars, Venus and beyond
Study for manned orbital station as next steps
Study for moon base and manned interplanetary travel as such was considered a long-term with low priority for moment.
But not all were happy with new situation, like Gluchko who keep his OKB-456 independent under protection of Strategic Rocket Force.
The other was Vladimir Chelomei OKB-52 who saw allot of his program getting cancelled by MoM.
Like the light UR-200 and UR-500 heavy ICBM, victims of V-SALT , L-1 lunar flyby, Kosmoplan and others
It was Chelomei own fault, who aggressively promoted his proposals, with defamation about his Rivals, also his Arrogant way was not helpful in this.
Also was Tyulin in Clinch with marshal Nedelin, how insisted that only Yangel OKB-586 build ICBM for Strategic Rocket Force,
with engines build by Gluchko OKB-456.
So started the Moonrace
Notes:
Agat, NII Khimash, TsNIIMASH and NIITI, are various science and Research institutes in Soviet Union.
The UR-200 was light ICBM stored in Launch container for easy replacement in Silo. a Similar system was used on R-16 and R-36 in TL
The UR-500 was project for a Heavy ICBM that delivers a 100 mega ton H-bomb, tested as the Tsar-bomba in 1961.
But events of 1961 and the Voluntary Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (V-SALT) terminated the Tsar and Heavy ICBM program.
Last edited:
Part 4- Mercury-Gemini vs Vostok-Voskhod
The Soviet beat the USA with sending Yuri Gagarin into Space in 1961.
24 days later, American Alan Shepard made Suborbital flight on Mercury-Redstone
Original all Seven NASA Astronauts had to do a Suborbital flight, bevor Orbit flights.
But the one day in space of Gherman Titov in Vostok 2, made those plans obsoleted.
NASA needed 10 months to launch Mercury-Atlas into orbit, with John Glenn on board.
While NASA try to catch up the Success of Titov flight by prolonging each Mercury flight,
The Soviet broke another Records with launch of Vostok 3 and 4 the first simultaneous mission in Space !
But the Mercury hardware was not reliable, the last flight with Mercury-9 show that clearly.
After 34 hours in space most of systems show problems and issue, that Gordon Cooper used manual override for return.
While Vostok 5 stay four days in space, follow by Vostok 6 with first Woman in space: Valentina Tereshkova.
NASA abandon Mercury and went for Gemini program a two men Capsule, for testing various technology for Apollo program.
In USSR Nikita Khrushchev demanded form MoM to beat the USA by sending 3 cosmonauts in Vostok capsule !
Original were 13 Vostok Mission planned, now canceled by Khrushchev with order of new program
Minister Tyulin was not happy, either Korolev and Sergei Khrushchev to manage this demand.
The Vostok spacecraft had the crew rescue system removed, in case launch failure the crew had not a chance !
The new Craft was called Voskhod to fool USA thinking the Soviet had their version of Gemini.
On 12 october 1964 Voskhod-1 was launch with V. Komarov, K. Feoktistov and B. Yegorov for one day mission.
Final the NASA could launch Gemini 3 into orbit, but before Gemini 4 in June could do a Spacewalk
The Soviets made this with Voskhod-2 on 18 march 1965 were Alexei Leonov made the first Spacewalk
But the USA catch up with Gemini 5 seven days mission,
or first rendezvous in Space between Gemini 6 and 7, What stay 14 days in space.
Khrushchev demanded to counter that with other Voskhod missions
Voskhod-3 was 10 day mission with two Women Valentina Ponomaryova and Irina Solovyova.
Voskhod-4 had to be a 20 day solo mission for Ivan Anikeyev in 1966.
His launch went wrong as on booster separation, one of them hit the core stage and destroy the rocket
Lucky for Anikeyev the Capsule was 50 km high and landed save 400 km from launch site.
Tyulin order the immediate end of the Voskhod and focus full on Soyuz program,
in dispute with Nikita Khrushchev he answer angry:
Do you want as first record also Dead Cosmonauts ?
In mean time NASA notice that Voskhod show same inflexibly like Vostok, no change of orbit, no rendezvous.
while the Gemini were first completely spacecraft able to do those things.
we're the USA now ahead in Space Race ?
Sidenote
MoM = Ministry of General Machine-Building Industry of USSR aka Soviet ministry of Space
do the failure Voskhod-4 was never a official mission and not mention for around 50 years in USSR
how the accident happen
The Soviet beat the USA with sending Yuri Gagarin into Space in 1961.
24 days later, American Alan Shepard made Suborbital flight on Mercury-Redstone
Original all Seven NASA Astronauts had to do a Suborbital flight, bevor Orbit flights.
But the one day in space of Gherman Titov in Vostok 2, made those plans obsoleted.
NASA needed 10 months to launch Mercury-Atlas into orbit, with John Glenn on board.
While NASA try to catch up the Success of Titov flight by prolonging each Mercury flight,
The Soviet broke another Records with launch of Vostok 3 and 4 the first simultaneous mission in Space !
But the Mercury hardware was not reliable, the last flight with Mercury-9 show that clearly.
After 34 hours in space most of systems show problems and issue, that Gordon Cooper used manual override for return.
While Vostok 5 stay four days in space, follow by Vostok 6 with first Woman in space: Valentina Tereshkova.
NASA abandon Mercury and went for Gemini program a two men Capsule, for testing various technology for Apollo program.
In USSR Nikita Khrushchev demanded form MoM to beat the USA by sending 3 cosmonauts in Vostok capsule !
Original were 13 Vostok Mission planned, now canceled by Khrushchev with order of new program
Minister Tyulin was not happy, either Korolev and Sergei Khrushchev to manage this demand.
The Vostok spacecraft had the crew rescue system removed, in case launch failure the crew had not a chance !
The new Craft was called Voskhod to fool USA thinking the Soviet had their version of Gemini.
On 12 october 1964 Voskhod-1 was launch with V. Komarov, K. Feoktistov and B. Yegorov for one day mission.
Final the NASA could launch Gemini 3 into orbit, but before Gemini 4 in June could do a Spacewalk
The Soviets made this with Voskhod-2 on 18 march 1965 were Alexei Leonov made the first Spacewalk
But the USA catch up with Gemini 5 seven days mission,
or first rendezvous in Space between Gemini 6 and 7, What stay 14 days in space.
Khrushchev demanded to counter that with other Voskhod missions
Voskhod-3 was 10 day mission with two Women Valentina Ponomaryova and Irina Solovyova.
Voskhod-4 had to be a 20 day solo mission for Ivan Anikeyev in 1966.
His launch went wrong as on booster separation, one of them hit the core stage and destroy the rocket
Lucky for Anikeyev the Capsule was 50 km high and landed save 400 km from launch site.
Tyulin order the immediate end of the Voskhod and focus full on Soyuz program,
in dispute with Nikita Khrushchev he answer angry:
Do you want as first record also Dead Cosmonauts ?
In mean time NASA notice that Voskhod show same inflexibly like Vostok, no change of orbit, no rendezvous.
while the Gemini were first completely spacecraft able to do those things.
we're the USA now ahead in Space Race ?
Sidenote
MoM = Ministry of General Machine-Building Industry of USSR aka Soviet ministry of Space
do the failure Voskhod-4 was never a official mission and not mention for around 50 years in USSR
how the accident happen
sadly no
for those who not understand
Ivan Anikeyev was a Cosmonaut who never went into space for various reasons
in TL he manage to qualified for Voskhod-4 flight, but R-7 Rocket failed during launch...