Konstantin Tsiolkovsky- Rocket Pioneers
This is the first of what will be a short series on the rocket pioneers from around the world.
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was a Russian, and later Soviet, rocket pioneer whose work ranks among those of Robert Goddard and Hermann Oberth in terms of importance. Chris Gainor writes in, To A Distant Day: The Rocket Pioneers, how Tsiolkovsky was always curious about science, dabbling in chemistry, physics, mathematics, aviation, and most importantly rocketry. (Gainor p.22) His early years were marked with hardships but eventually he was able to produce numerous important works.
Tsiolkovsky's most important work, "Investigating Space with Reaction Devices." was published the same year the Wright brothers successfully completed a powered flight for the first time. Gainor writes:
This work, one of the great foundations of astronautics, contained the first proposal for the use of liquid-fueled rockets as devices for venturing into space, including rockets that use the combinations of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, kerosene and liquid oxygen, alcohol and liquid oxygen, and methane and liquid oxygen. Tsiolkovsky proposed that the fuel and oxidizer be mixed together in a combustion chamber, and also suggested that rudders in the rocket's exhaust be used to steer the vehicle... By computing the power of fuels and the speeds necessary to escape the Earth, Tsiolkovsky showed that while a single rocket was not up to the job, "step rockets" could succeed... Although he was not the first to think of a staged rocket, Tsiolkovsky was the first to see its important role in reaching space. (Gainor p.22-23)
Besides working on the principles of rocketry, Tsiolkovsky also asked more fundamental questions about life in the universe. He wrote a series of essays on extraterrestrial life, believing "life was common in the universe." (Gainor p.25) Gainor also points out that:
Tsiolkovsky posed the question later famously raised in 1950- years after his death- by physicist Enrico Fermi: IF there is intelligent life elewhere in the universe, why haven't we seen evidence of it? Tsiolkovsky answered what is today known as the Fermi Paradox by pointing out that more advanced beings have no reason to visit us because we have nothing to give them. "Apparently, there is hope that something worthwile will develop from us." (Gainor p.25)
Here is a list of interesting links that delve deeper into the life and accomplishments of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky:
"Konstantin Tsiolkovsky: Russian Father of Rocketry"- space.com
NASA Biographical Short- nasa.gov
To A Distant Day: The Rocket Pioneers. Available at Amazon.com.
Featured Image- Tumblr.com