Voices Of The Soviet Space Program

In this remarkable oral history, Slava Gerovitch presents interviews with the men and women who witnessed Soviet space efforts firsthand. Rather than comprising a "master narrative," these fascinating and varied accounts bring to light the often divergent perspectives, experiences, and institutional cultures that defined the Soviet space program.

From the start, the Soviet human space program had an identity crisis. Were cosmonauts heroic pilots steering their craft through the dangers of space, or were they mere passengers riding safely aboard fully automated machines? Tensions between Soviet cosmonauts and space engineers were reflected not only in the internal development of the space program but also in Soviet propaganda that wavered between praising daring heroes and flawless technologies. Soviet Space Mythologies explores the history of the Soviet human space program within a political and cultural context, giving particular attention to the two professional groups—space engineers and cosmonauts—who secretly built and publicly represented the program. Drawing on recent scholarship on memory and identity formation, this book shows how both the myths of Soviet official history and privately circulating counter-myths have served as instruments of collective memory and professional identity. These practices shaped the evolving cultural image of the space age in popular Soviet imagination. Soviet Space Mythologies provides a valuable resource for scholars and students of space history, history of technology, and Soviet (and post-Soviet) history.

Traces the development of the Soviet space program from Sputnik to the Mir space station, and looks at future Soviet plans for the exploration of space.

Describes the Russian space program, telling of unpublicized disasters as well as recent successes.

This, fifty years after Sputnik, is the definitive book on the Russian space program. The author covers all the key elements of the current Russian space program, including both manned and unmanned missions. He examines the various types of unmanned applications programs as well as the crucial military program, and even analyzes the infrastructure of production, launch centres and tracking. You’ll also find discussion of the commercialization of the program and its relationship with western companies. Russia’s current space experiment is also put in a comparative global context. Strong emphasis is placed on Russia’s future space intentions and on new programs and missions in prospect.

Introducing the "Soviet Space Program" Book Bundle: Embark on an Epic Journey through History and Beyond! Are you ready to delve into the captivating world of space exploration? The "Soviet Space Program" book bundle takes you on an extraordinary adventure through the triumphs, challenges, and remarkable achievements of the Soviet Union's space exploration endeavors. This carefully curated collection of four captivating books is a must-have for space enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone intrigued by the wonders of the cosmos. Book 1: "Sputnik's Legacy: From Beeping Satellite To Space Exploration Milestones" unveils the awe-inspiring story of Sputnik, the iconic beeping satellite that ignited the space race. Explore the profound impact of Sputnik on scientific progress, technological advancements, and the geopolitical landscape. Discover how this humble satellite paved the way for groundbreaking space exploration milestones and forever changed our understanding of the universe. Book 2: "Vostok: The Pioneers Of Human Spaceflight" takes you on a thrilling journey through the pioneering era of human spaceflight. Immerse yourself in the courageous exploits of Yuri Gagarin, Gherman Titov, and other trailblazing cosmonauts who dared to venture beyond Earth's atmosphere. Witness their triumphs, struggles, and the indomitable spirit that propelled them to become the pioneers of human space exploration. Book 3: "Soyuz: Bridge To The Stars - The Story Of Russia's Spacecraft" uncovers the fascinating tale of the Soyuz spacecraft, the backbone of the Soviet space program. Explore its evolution from a symbol of Cold War competition to a bridge of international cooperation. Journey through the history of Soyuz and discover its pivotal role in missions such as the International Space Station, a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of Russian space engineering. Book 4: "Luna Revealed: Soviet Moon Missions And The Quest For Lunar Exploration" takes you on an exhilarating expedition to the moon. Delve into the Luna program's lunar missions, from groundbreaking soft landings to the retrieval of precious moon samples. Experience the thrill of lunar exploration and uncover the secrets of our celestial neighbor through the eyes of the Soviet Union's ambitious lunar missions. Individually, each book provides a captivating and in-depth exploration of its respective topic. Together, they form a comprehensive and enlightening collection that showcases the remarkable achievements, scientific discoveries, and enduring fascination of the Soviet Space Program. Whether you're a space enthusiast seeking to expand your knowledge, a history buff fascinated by the Cold War era, or simply someone intrigued by humanity's journey to the stars, the "Soviet Space Program" book bundle is a must-have addition to your library. Join us on this captivating voyage through time and space as we uncover the extraordinary legacy of the Soviet Union's space exploration endeavors. Don't miss your chance to own this remarkable book bundle. Order your copy of the "Soviet Space Program" today and embark on an unforgettable adventure into the history and wonders of space exploration!

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the programme from its beginnings up to the present, emphasising in particular the degree to which the Soviet space programme is orientated towards military capabilities.

In this book, Slava Gerovitch argues that Soviet cybernetics was not just an intellectual trend but a social movement for radical reform in science and society as a whole. Followers of cybernetics viewed computer simulation as a universal method of problem solving and the language of cybernetics as a language of objectivity and truth. With this new objectivity, they challenged the existing order of things in economics and politics as well as in science. The history of Soviet cybernetics followed a curious arc. In the 1950s it was labeled a reactionary pseudoscience and a weapon of imperialist ideology. With the arrival of Khrushchev's political "thaw," however, it was seen as an innocent victim of political oppression, and it evolved into a movement for radical reform of the Stalinist system of science. In the early 1960s it was hailed as "science in the service of communism," but by the end of the decade it had turned into a shallow fashionable trend. Using extensive new archival materials, Gerovitch argues that these fluctuating attitudes reflected profound changes in scientific language and research methodology across disciplines, in power relations within the scientific community, and in the political role of scientists and engineers in Soviet society. His detailed analysis of scientific discourse shows how the Newspeak of the late Stalinist period and the Cyberspeak that challenged it eventually blended into "CyberNewspeak."