Michaell Fedorovich Reshetnev - outstanding domestic scientist, designer, academician, Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of Lenin and State prizes, the organizer of the production systems of space telecommunications and rocket technology.
Origins and training towards the main cause of life
Michael Reshetnov was born November 10, 1924 in a village Barmashovo the Odessa region. Exceptional ability to learn, as well as a solid preparation preschool in a family contributed to the fact that Michael, who entered the first grade of secondary school in September, a few days later was transferred to the second class, and in November of the same year he became a pupil of the third grade, so graduated with honors talented student received at age 15. His enthusiasm in school and at home at the time was aircraft modeling, so it became quite clear the continuation of studies at the Moscow Aviation Institute, where he graduated in 1950 with a break in training through participation in World War II. During the war, after studying at Serpukhov school and getting a degree in aviation mechanics, Michael Reshetnov prepared for combat aircrafts at military installations of the country, which was noted by the relevant military and labor awards.
Stormy military and following college years shaped his character traits such as perseverance, hard work in achieving the goal. Education at the Institute combined with evening classes in science and technology group that dealt with problems of jet aircraft, where he met with Michael Klavdievich Tikhonravov - a former member of the Group for the Study of Jet Propulsion, created in Moscow with the participation of S. Korolev. The topic of his thesis, Michael Reshetnov connected with designing fighter at liquid-jet thrust with fantastic speed for the time at triple the speed of sound. Known designer Vladimir Myasishchev was his Curator and he professionally assessed plan and high level of Diploma. The project was successfully defended before the state commission headed by the famous aircraft designer Semyon Alekseevich Lavochkin. Its high appreciation of the project gave the author the right to choose their future work. Michael Tikhonravov advised: "Go to Korolev, I agreed." Thus began the next stage of the creative activity of the future chief designer.
Growth in scientific and engineering school S. Korolev
Michael Fedorovich was one of the closest associates of Sergei Korolyov, the successor of its affairs, plans and considered him as his main teacher and mentor. In his memoirs M. Reshetnov said:" School S. Korolev not only required from each man of great dedication, truly selfless work, but also it selected, grew, put forward talented people. Sergei Pavlovich loved people with intellectual mindset, creative, able not only to find radical solutions to scientific, technical, organizational and other problems, but also to take responsibility. "
It is all of these features of the Korolev school Michael Fedorovich felt, working directly in the EDB-1 from 1950 po1959 year. Graduate MAI was taken to work in the company by Sergei Korolev personally. Chief Designer outlined him the prospects for the development of cosmonautics. Since the early days of engineering work, then how in 1994 the newspaper "Red Star" described it- the chief designer drew attention to the fact that the young engineer of the project "... is able to work, and discusses as a strong people. And the recommendation Tikhonravov also meant a lot. " So Reshetnova career was quite clear. A year later he became a senior engineer, and in early 1956 S. Korolev with the words "Your time has come!" offered him one of the most critical in the OKB-1 position of lead designer that included the interaction of the employee in this position directly with the chief designer and responsible to him for the results of its work.
S. Korolev gave rights of chief designer of medium-range missile R-11 to M. Yangel, which formed a team of professionals, creators of missile, who worked for the so-called high-boiling fuel components that may be stored for a long time.
Orenburg aircraft factory was charged serial production of missile R-11, and a leading designer of this product Reshetnov Michael was able to find the necessary mechanisms of effective cooperation with the factory workers, ensuring the success of the task. The missile was successfully tested and was assigned to the weapons. At the same time, with the participation of Reshetnev issues of modernization of the R-11 to deliver a nuclear warhead and transport missiles using the capabilities of a heavy tank designer Joseph Kotin were been addressed.
Thanks to the positive results and the personal contribution of Michael Fedorovich in the successful execution of the task, Sergei Korolev in June 1958 appoint Reshetnev as his deputy, which, in fact, was consistent with the principles of the activities of its scientific and engineering schools.
The organization of world class business
50th years of the last century were marked by the Cold War confrontation between the military potential of the USSR and the USA. Given the high risk of placing the key research and defence enterprises only in the European part of the country, the President Nikita Khrushchev put the following problem: "I think that all the largest defense companies should be doubles beyond the Volga, in Ural and Siberia. First this applies to comrades Kurchatov, Korolev, Yangel! "
In June 1959, to perform this task, branch № 2 EDB-1 in Krasnoyarsk-26, later called Zheleznogorsk, was created on the base of design bureau of the plant "Krasmash". S.Korolev appointed 35-year-old Mikhail Reshetnev as the head of this branch, who began work on the formation of the nucleus of the Siberian branch of the personnel in the starting lineup that included 60 experts, picked by himself.
A key role in the formation of new enterprises was played by a prominent designer of rocket technology Michael Kuzmich Yangel. The rocket P-14 became the first product of the Siberian Branch. Creative collaboration with Michael Yangel formed a new direction - creating carrier rockets and small satellites. With the consent and support of the S. Korolev, the further development of the Siberian enterprise was determined by decision of the government from December 18, 1961 on the reorganization of the branch of EDB-1 in an independent design bureau EDB-10 (1967 - DB Applied Mechanics) under the direction of M. Reshetnev. At the suggestion of N. Yangel the development of space communication theme starte in Siberia, which later became the main focus of the Research and Production Association of Applied Mechanics - NPO PM. As M. Reshetnev recalls after some time, "when Michael Kuzmich visited our company, we have already had something to show him: booster K-65 start flying, our first satellites were on the orbit." A landmark was the date of August 18, 1964, when first was launched rocket 11K65 and layouts of three satellites "Strela" ("Kosmos-38", "Kosmos-79", "Kosmos-40"), which were created under the direction of M .F . Reshetnev. The very basic model of the launch vehicle and its modernization provided by 2000 run on different orbits over 1000 artificial satellites for various purposes, both civilian and military applications.
Satellite data telecommunication systems set up for the first time
The development of modern technology required the presence of its own modern equipment for research testing and design decisions of a large number of components of space systems and their components. It is about the study of mechanical systems, computer applications and gyroscopic instruments, the development of antenna and electronic devices, improvement of thermal modes spacecraft, widely used in space technology and other new materials. Underlying these problems have been resolved under the guidance of M. Reshetnev in the 60s years.
In one of his articles at the time M.F.Reshetnov, in particular, wrote: "... speaking about space exploration, we can not fully predict what practical results to which they lead. However, the first successes in this area are eloquent, practical value of space exploration is defined in the real life aspects of human society. We name some of them: the creation of space systems and television communications, navigation, geodesy, meteorology, photographic and radio observations, the study of nature, and others.
In some cases, these problems are better addressed by space systems (TV and communications); in other cases it is impossible in principle to find solution to the modern requirements of the tasks purely earthly means (navigation, meteorology) ... ".
The new company, a highly-qualified specialists under the direction of Michael Reshetnova attached to the design and creation of satellite spacecraft, and the subject becomes a priority. To solve the problems of communication satellites have been developed such as "Molnya"; Navigation - "Cyclone", "GLONASS", "Cicada"; Rescue - "Nadejda"; Geodesy - "Sphere"; study the ionosphere - "Yonosfernaya Station" and others.
Creation of satellite communication systems of the Soviet Union began in the 60s using active retransmitters located on satellites. The first of these developments was a system based on the spacecraft "Molniya-1", created in OKB-1 and transferred by Korolev to DB M. Reshetnev in 1965 for serial production and support the operation. In two years, space complex of four units "Molniya-1", located on highly elliptical orbits, which, together with 20 earth stations of "Orbit" was put into operation, for the first time the problem of communication and broadcasting of country was solved. The result, of course, was a significant breakthrough for the transmission program of the Central Television from Moscow to the regions. No country in the world had such a unique experience to operate the satellites in highly elliptical orbits. But it did not reduce the relevance of information systems using geostationary satellites, which rotates in a circular orbit in the equatorial plane with an angular velocity equal to the rotational speed, constantly being stationary relative to the observer on Earth. This earth station antenna can be fixed, which significantly reduces the cost and simplifies the construction of ground stations receiving radio signals from geostationary satellites. Given these advantages and prospects of development of communication systems with geostationary satellites experts DB M. Reshetnova, during space launch "Molniya-1C" July 29, 1974 first worked out the possibility of the satellite output to a location in geostationary orbit, which later found its wide practical use.
In October 1974, the results of fifteen years successuful work DB of MF Reshetnev, were awarded the highest awards of the state, and Michael Fedorovich was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
Creation of the first geostationary satellites required developing and implementing of new principles of design that have been tried and tested in the team of Michael Fedorovich. In particular, they develop active triaxial orientation system for satellite "Raduga" which became a base for future systems orientation and stabilization of other geostationary satellites. Launch of the first satellite "Rainbow" was held December 22, 1975, almost simultaneously with the launch of a similar American satellite "Satcom-1". Family space communications satellites "Rainbow" for 30 years successfully solved tasks.
The next step in the development of geostationary-satellite systems that do not need to reconfigure the receiving antennas on the Earth and the use of ground stations "Orbita" was the development of satellite direct television broadcasting, which provides transmission of television programs directly to the television receivers of multiple users. For this purpose, in particular, the transition was made from the amplitude to frequency modulation radio signals, using two kilowatt power solar panels on satellites, developed original special design transmintting antennas onboard that being spread out in the cosmos had an area of 12 m2, and others original technical solutions were carried out. October 26, 1976 the first satellite of direct television broadcasting "Ecran" was launched into a geostationary orbit, so TV covered not only the central regions, and for the first time - the northern and eastern parts of the country.
The government's job to ensure the transmission of television signals not only to the territory of the Soviet Union, but also in other countries was carried out through the creation and implementation of space complex satellites "Horizon", placed at seven points of the geostationary orbit. This was provided by information and telecommunication service activities of the Moscow Olympics (1980), and the country for the first time began to sell foreign satellite channels operating companies. Then there were successful development of many more spacecraft created in NPO PM. Among them: The unit "Geo-IK" - to create a geodetic networks, the definition of the parameters of the gravitational field of the Earth, studying the topography of the ocean; satellite "Luch" - to relay information management manned spacecraft, transmit television signals using small relay stations, telemedicine, "The Messenger-D" - a satellite for the functioning of e-mail; satellite "Gals" - for direct television broadcasting of international use. Control of the satellite for the first time was carried out from Zheleznogorsk control center from the territory of NPO.
During the opening of the exhibition of space technology organized at Baikonur in 1987 for the country's leadership, Michael Fedorovich Reshetnev showed their latest developments. A significant number of them attracted the attention of the country's leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, to which he responded to the question: "And that you all are doing in Siberia?" Reshetnev replied: "In Siberia. But we are working with both Moscow and Leningrad, and another 200 cities of the Union." Academic institutions and enterprises of Ukraine were also Krasnoyarsk partners. Here are just a few examples. Creation of a space vehicle "Ray" was intended to facilitate the exchange of information between the satellites, space station "Mir" spacecraft "Buran" and the Flight Control Center. The "Ray" specificity demanded the creation of onboard power plant with capacity of up to 2 kW, as well as antenna diameter of 1.6; 3 and 4.5 m. Such antennas were created after a personal meeting with President Michael Reshetnev Academy of Sciences Boris Paton in Kiev, where the Academic Institute for Problems of Materials were manufactured metal setopolotno for space antenna apparatus "Ray."
Another example. Under the leadership of Reshetnev, head of Design Bureau of Radio Factory Vladimir G. Taranenko developed and made available mobile earth stations in a satellite communication system "Crystal", which was commissioned in 1980. Over the years, the industrial production of microwave devices for these mobile earth stations was carried out research and production association of Ukraine "Saturn", "Orion" with the participation of scientists of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. In particular, our scientists and engineers have been created supersensitive signal amplifiers using gallium arsenide field-effect transistors Schottky own production for the satellite receiver and TV, low-noise converters selective receivers, as well as new materials and dielectric resonators and frequency-selective devices based on them. These devices are 50-100 times improved weight and size parameters of electronic equipment, so widely used in space telecommunications systems.
Another direction of satellite applications related to dealing with navigation support of transport infrastructure in order to accurately determine their location, direction, speed, etc. The urgency of this problem back in the 60s established at the initiative of M. Reshetnev direction of its staff in the area of satellite coordinates measurements. At the same time have been developed navigation satellite systems "Cyclone", "Cicada", "Space" and, finally, the global satellite navigation system "GLONASS", which had a higher performance and the ability of continuous service to users of the system on the surface of the Earth and near-Earth space. Deploying a system that consisted of 24 satellites was in 1995, and for its creation of the system developers "Glonass", including M. Reshetnev, in 1996, were awarded the State Prize for Science and Technology in Russia. It was the last state award Michael Reshetnev, who died January 26, 1996.
Afterword
One of the traits of Michael Fedorovich Reshetnev as an outstanding leader and scientist was his ability to reason and act from the state positions. This primarily refers to a sense of personal responsibility for their work and talent to unite people to perform important tasks of the state level. The merits of M. Reshetnev as a scientist are recognized by his election to the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and by assigning the title of professor.
Michael Fedorovich has been characterized by high education and culture, openness and availability, persistence and perseverance ... Created under his leadership in Krasnoyarsk offspring will still be the technical basis of the program of development of the information society, the basis, based on the creation of space vehicles and communication systems, television broadcasting, surveying, navigation and other information and communication systems. During the life of the chief designer his company has developed and produced more than 30 space systems, more than 1,000 artificial satellites were launched into orbit. Together, they accounted for 60% of all satellites of the country was an original record company Reshetnev space activities. Development of space systems by highly intelligent employees of this firm are marked with six of Lenin and a 20th USSR State Prizes. There is among the modern development of the Krasnoyarsk team the participatation in the creation, together with the Canadian and Ukrainian experts of Ukraine's first telecommunications satellite "Lybid".
In memory of M. Reshetnev a number of objects named after him, including Enterprise "NPO", which he led for more than 36 years, the Siberian Aerospace University, "Medal Reshetnev" Cosmonautics Federation of Russia, Minor planet number 7046, and others.
In 2006, colleagues from NPO Applied Mechanics and followers lifelong Michael Reshetnov published an excellent book "Academician Michael Fedorovich Reshetnёv", where on the basis of official documents and memories told about the bright and multifaceted life of his legendary teacher. Materials of the book are used in the preparation of this article.
The head of the Military Space Forces of Russia, Colonel-General Vladimir Ivanov when Reshetnev died, wrote about him, in particular, the following: "Man - this is the time in which he lives, the country, for the benefit of which he is working, the cause to which he devoted his life, leaving a good memory. This life is not only a line between his birthday and care. Her wealth immeasurably ... History cosmonautics is still short by earthly standards. All the way from the start to the present day fits into a single human life. But so many brilliant scientists, designers, production organizers with their ideas ahead of time, fundamental discoveries, brilliant foresight are on the way. Michael Fedorovich Reshetnev was included in this list of Gold. "