Russian engineer born in Zhitomir, Ukraine, responsible for the implementation of Soviet space projects until the mid-twentieth century and for the first successes of the Soviet Union in space. His interest in astronautics began in his youth, by reading books by scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a researcher in aerodynamics. He studied aeronautical engineering and graduated from the Moscow Technical School, where he was a student of leading rocket designers such as Andrey Tupolev.
He then participated in the creation of the Study Group on Reaction Propulsion and (1932) became director of that body. He planned and coordinated the construction of the first Soviet liquid fuel-powered experimental rocket (1933). His disinterest in politics and non-membership of the Communist Party brought him into trouble with the government. At various points in his career, he came into conflict with the Soviet authorities and was even imprisoned during World War II (1939-1945), but, confined to a special prison, continued to work on his projects. After the war, at the beginning of the next decade, he developed his first rocket launcher, the Vostok, and planned the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to enter Earth's orbit (1957).
The results of their research also allow the USSR to build its first intercontinental ballistic missile. Because of the importance of his work for the USSR space program, his identity is preserved as a state secret by the Soviet government until his death in Moscow, and was honorably buried in the Kremlin. For some analysts, his death contributed to the Soviet Union losing its lead in experiments with manned flights and being overtaken by the United States in conquering the Moon.
Source: http://www.dec.ufcg.edu.br/biografias/
Order S - Biography - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biografia/serguei-pavlovich.htm
