Rockets and People Vol. 4 by Boris Chertok

Author:Boris Chertok
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NASA, History, Rockets, People
Publisher: NASA
Published: 2012-02-08T16:00:00+00:00

On the morning of 14 April, Yurevich, Nevzorov, and I climbed onto the vertical test stand of the 7K spacecraft in the old MIK, where we indulged in speculation about the rendezvous systems “on location.” The emergency x-ray system developed by Yurevich for the final approach segment was the reason we were there. We had agreed that far approach was, of course, the prerogative of the radio engineers, while a simple x-ray system with cosmonaut participation would be good for the near segment. A laser could also be used instead of an x-ray unit.

“We could have done everything a lot more simply and reliably than Igla and Kontakt, but now it’s a little late to start from scratch,” said Nevzorov.

By a strange coincidence, Legostayev called me from Podlipki over the high-frequency communications line. He reported that once again the expert commission had begun working “like crazy” on the N1-L3. The chairman of the control section, Academician Bunkin, insisted on the criticism that Kontakt had no backup on the L3.31

“One failure after lifting off from the Moon to dock with the LOK, and the cosmonaut will stay in near-lunar orbit forever,” Bunkin argued his position. “At least back up Kontakt with a simple laser system.”

“That’s a valid comment,” I answered. “There’s nothing I can say to that—agreed.”

“So are you going to give me the weight for a second Kontakt? Perhaps you and Bushuyev will also arrange this.”

“Don’t worry and don’t argue with the commission. If only we could wait until the first successful flight of the N-1 and then sort out the situation with the vehicles.”

“Okay,” responded Legostayev. “We need to accept all of Bunkin’s proposals. And also, Vasiliy Pavlovich [Mishin] has flown out to see you.”

Over lunch we agreed that Bushuyev and I would drive out to meet Mishin, and Shabarov would “mind the store.” To our surprise, none of the cosmonauts, who had already spent several days under Kamanin’s leadership at Site No. 17, had come to the airfield [to greet Mishin]. Only the firing range deputy chief of staff represented the military authorities. After descending the airplane’s stairway, in response to our greeting, Mishin brusquely, unconstrained by his surroundings, tore into me and Bushuyev: “And why are you here? There’s nothing else for you to do?”

After seeing the bewildered faces of the onlookers, he greeted us eventually. We couldn’t help but recall the times when we had met Korolev here when he flew in. Usually Korolev made whoever picked him up—Voskresenskiy, Shabarov, or me—take a seat in his car and, the whole way to his cottage, questioned him about things at the firing range and shared the latest news from Moscow.

At 1800 hours Shabarov suddenly convened a meeting of the technical management. Two glitches had been discovered on the DOS, which had already “departed” for Site No. 92. One of the planners, after consulting with the optics specialists, determined that when the cover of the x-ray telescope opens, it falls within the field of vision of the infrared vertical [sensors].

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