Veterans of the Cosmos: a Unique Project on the History of Soviet Cosmonautics

Paper number

IAC-07-E4.1.03

Author

Mr. Tal Inbar, Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies, Israel

Year

2007

Abstract

This article will encompass a detailed account on a novel approach towards the history of Soviet cosmonautics, Oral history of space veterans, and a celebration of the first 50 years of space exploration. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the world’s first satellite, the Sputnik 1, it was decided to conduct a year long project in which all the veterans of the Soviet space programs who immigrated to Israel will be found, contacted, interviewed and documented for generations to come.

More than 1.5 million citizens of Israel emigrated from the Soviet Union since 1990. Among them are many scientist, engineers, scholars and technicians who worked on various Soviet space programs. I have found so far space veterans who worked on R-7 engines, The Lunakhode Moon rovers, the Buran space shuttle – to name a few.

The activity is the initiative of the Israeli Space Society, together with the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies, The ministry of Science and culture, and several other organizations. The project is joined by high school students of Ex-Soviet origin, who serve as translators and researchers. The interviews will be published electronically on a dedicated web site, and all the materials gathered in this unique "living history" project will be at the public domain.

The project culminating point will be held on October 4, 2007 – The 50th anniversary of the space age, at a gala night, under the auspices of the Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh ambassadors to Israel, as well as the ministers of Science and Culture, the minister of Education and dignitaries from Israel’s space establishment. The space veterans will get a medal and certificate in the name of the state of Israel, honoring their unique contribution to science, technology and society.

This undertaking is the first of its kind in Israel, and is of grand scale and effort. It is my hope to present in the article several revelations on early Soviet spaceflights, and in the next congress to go into more detailed biographies of the pioneers of the cosmos who lived in Israel today.

Abstract document

IAC-07-E4.1.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-E4.1.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.