Holdings of the H.I. Denysenko Scientific and Technical Library are replenished not only through the purchase of books and subscriptions to periodicals. One of the important sources is the editions that were donated and are still being donated by book collecting authors. There are real rarities among them, in particular the works of famous scientists who studied, worked or collaborated with the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute at different times. On January 20, 2022, Eduard Ivanovych Kuznietsov, one of the most authoritative experts in the domestic rocket and space industry, head of the training of the first cosmonaut of independent Ukraine, Leonid Kadeniuk "Mission STS-87", permanent deputy of the four general directors of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, adviser to five of its heads, chairman of the Public Council under the Agency, first vice-president of the Aerospace Society of Ukraine, also donated to the university library.
Two editions. Both are obviously dedicated to the rocket and space industry of Ukraine. Both will reveal to the reader little-known, and often completely unknown pages of the space history of our state. One is a purely scientific monograph "History of rocket and space science and technology of Ukraine" edited by Volodymyr Horbulin, Academician, the first Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences, Academician, prepared by the Dobrov Institute for Scientific and Technological Potential and Science History Studies of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Eduard Kuznietsov prepared a section on the work and achievements of the domestic space industry during the times of independent Ukraine. Eduard Kuznietsov is also the author of the second book that he presented to the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute - "Thirty Years in Orbit. 1992 - 2022" which is written in a popular science form.
As it is stated in the abstract, the collective monograph on the history of Ukrainian space "explains in detail the main results obtained by our rocket designers: four generations of combat missiles and guided missile systems, launch vehicles for spacecraft, and the spacecraft themselves. A lot of names and facts, archival documents, materials and Government resolutions were introduced into the scientific record for the first time... If necessary, the historical world context was added to the consideration."
The book "Thirty years in orbit..." is the story of not even a witness, but a direct participant in the vast majority of events that took place in the rocket and space industry of independent Ukraine, and one of the organizers of the realization of almost all of Ukrainian significant projects. It was issued for the 30th anniversary of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, which ensures the implementation of state policy in the field of space activities.
These two editions will certainly become the most authoritative sources of generalized knowledge and information about the Ukrainian rocket and space sphere. Together, they form a real encyclopedia of this domestic industry, even though it is not compiled according to the alphabetic principle, but it is no less interesting. And from now on, it will be impossible to have any serious conversation about the history and potential of "Ukrainian space" without addressing or referring to them.
Today, true information about the Ukrainian rocket and space industry is especially important, because russian propaganda persistently imposes fakes on the world about the inability of Ukrainian scientists, engineers and, in general, industry to deal with space problems effectively and develop space technologies. Although it is a pity, similar theses without any evidence can be heard from some of our self-proclaimed "experts", who appear from time to time out of nowhere. The facts given in the publications refute most of their chatter and writings, because here all the data is checked to the last word.
"For 30 years, to which the book "Thirty Years in Orbit..." is dedicated, Ukraine has carried out 132 launches from 6 cosmodromes in the world, and launched more than 300 spacecraft from 40 countries into orbit! - Eduard Kuznietsov said in an interview with Oksana Brui, director of the library of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and journalists while transferring books. - This is an achievement not only of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, but also of enterprises in our industry. All this is stated in the book."
And indeed, one of the tables in appendices to the publication is entitled precisely - "Launches of Ukrainian-designed and manufactured launch vehicles from spaceports of the world during the period of Ukraine's independence." It contains launch statistics of all Ukrainian carriers: from "Tsyklon-2" to "Zenit - 3SLB". Information on Ukrainian-designed and manufactured space vehicles that were launched into Earth orbits was also carefully selected, and, most certainly, on the developers and manufacturers of these vehicles and their systems and subsystems, as well as on the developers of the terrestrial space infrastructure.
During the conversation, Eduard Kuznietsov also mentioned Ukraine's participation in the international project "Sea Launch", in the joint project "Antares" with the United States (the first stage core, which puts the rocket into orbit, was developed by the Pivdenne Design Bureau and manufactured at "Pivdenmash" in it), in the European project "Vega" (within which, Ukrainian developers and manufacturers created a liquid propellant rocket engine of the fourth stage of a launch vehicle) and others. You can read more about these in his book, as well as about the possibilities of further use of Ukrainian space technologies for the needs of the national economy.
Therefore, both editions are of great value, especially for specialists who research the history of technology and, in particular, the rocket and space industry. And also, of course, for polytechnic students. It is a pity that they were issued in very small editions and will not be sold. It is all the more important that now they are also in the Scientific and Technical Library of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. A preliminary agreement was reached with the author to organize meetings with students of involved specialties of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and schoolchildren who are members of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, so that more potential readers will learn about them.