USSR 1991

Page 224

Yanayev looked at the carrier rocket that was already making final preparations before launch in the distance. After a few hours, the rocket will enter the countdown. At that time, a new generation of navigation satellites that symbolize the Soviet Union will be lifted into the sky, breaking the US GPS monopoly on satellite navigation.

Yanayev stared at the huge steel monster in the distance, and muttered to himself, "I did at least one thing that made the Soviet aerospace sector feel lucky. I organized the division of the allied countries and forcibly separated the allied countries from the autonomous countries. It has become an autonomous region and an integral part of the Soviet Union, otherwise Russia in the future will need to rent Baikonur to the split Kazakhstan at a price of 1 million U.S. dollars per year."

The convoy stopped at the entrance of the command center, the steps were covered with a solemn red carpet, and the positions on both sides were filled with soldiers waiting in battle.As the launch command center and the department visited by the top leaders of the Soviet Union, neither the KGB Tenth Bureau nor the Soviet aviation department hoped that there would be any mistakes or unexpected situations.And Plekhanov has always been a person who doesn't like to tolerate variables. When Yanayev travels, he hopes that all the details will be perfect.

Yanayev got off the car, and the soldiers' eyes were focused on the national leader who rarely showed his face in public. His expression was very peaceful, like a kind leader, nodding and smiling to the soldiers on both sides.He has such a friendly attitude towards everyone.

Is this really the Supreme Leader of the Soviets?

It is estimated that many people have this idea in their minds.

And to their surprise, Yanayev was holding a bouquet of white flowers when he got out of the car.

flower?

At this time, everyone's eyes were focused on the bouquet of white flowers in Yanayev's hand. Logically speaking, one should not hold a bouquet of flowers on such an occasion, but every movement made by the country's leaders has its own meaning. deep political significance.So they didn't dare to jump to conclusions.It was just that when he reached the gate of the Baikonur Command Center, Yanayev handed the bouquet of flowers to the people around him, and then he and Rikoptev entered the gate of the launch center.

Rikoptev, head of the space department of the Soviet Union, accompanied Yanayev and told him about the launch of the launch vehicle. The entire command center was busy in an intense and orderly manner. The preparation work, the staff has been evacuated from the rocket launcher, ready to enter the final countdown state.

"The Proton carrier rocket is ready to enter the countdown, General Secretary Yanayev. Soon after our own vine system, the first Lotus satellite is successfully launched, it is expected that satellites will be launched successively in the next few years until we complete our mission. The deployment of the satellite reconnaissance system."

Since the construction of the Vine satellite system is related to the fate of the Soviet Red Navy, Smirev also appeared in Baikonur to witness this historic moment.

"It will take about a few years to complete the deployment? Our enemy will not give us enough time." Smiryev accompanied Yanayev to visit the launch of the Lotus satellite.

As a soldier, he certainly hopes that the Soviet Red Navy can establish its own satellite reconnaissance system in a short period of time to deal with threats from Western enemies, and he realizes that if the vine system is successfully established, then the Soviet Red Navy will It will reduce the number of its own ships on a large scale.

Even he has to admit that Yanayev is really far-sighted in every move.

Rikoptev explained, "It's hard to say, this is the first satellite we launched, and we will continue to launch new satellites only after observation and improvement, so all results must pass the final test, and Only after subsequent adjustments can we know. However, the condition of the first Lotus satellite is more perfect than we imagined, so I think it will not take long to complete the vine system."

"I hope it won't take much time, Comrade Rikoputev." The construction of the vine system is a major task that Yanayev must complete during his term of office. Just like Glonass' networking plan, he does not want to Leaving these hands and tails to the era of Putin in power, as a pavement and pioneer, Yanayev is willing to bear all the difficulties and obstacles.

"We can't guarantee the completion time, but we will definitely do our best to perfect the vine system." Rekoptev replied.

But obviously Yanayev is not very satisfied with this answer to the best of his ability.

"After the first Lotus satellite has been laid, please immediately prepare for the improvement of the second Peony satellite, and strive to complete the launch of the three satellites of the Vines system in 1997. By the end of 1999, there will be at least eight satellites. built vine system."

Yanayev said in a firm tone to Rikoputev's order, "This is an instruction from the Politburo. We are willing to provide sufficient financial support for the aviation industry sector. This is not a boring indicator issued by those bureaucrats, but It's about the fate and the future of a country, Minister Rickupteff."

Yanayev said earnestly, "Everything we do now is to make up for the mistakes we made in the 80s. Make up for Gorbachev's mistakes. Maybe it seems a bit inappropriate in your eyes Reasonable, but these are very necessary."

Now is not the time for brain drain in the 90s. The Soviet Union's strong industrial strength convinced Yanayev that the deployment of the vine system could be completed before 1999.

At that time, the Soviet Union will become the second country to complete the satellite reconnaissance system after the United States.

Yanayev turned his head, looked at the Proton rocket ready to launch on the screen, and muttered to himself, "This is for the future of the children, Comrade Rikoptev. Know why after 1991 we almost banned Of all the aviation projects, only a few remain? It is for the future development of our aviation industry."

At this time, the Proton carrier rocket had just entered the countdown to launch, and everyone stopped their work and focused their attention on the big screen.Yanayev silently followed the countdown sound in his heart.

"three"

All personnel have been evacuated from the launch site, only the Lotus satellite is waiting for the launch vehicle to send it into the boundless space on the launch pad.

"two"

Rykoptev and Smiryev stared closely at the big screen, for fear of missing the moment when the rocket took off.After five years of silence, Baikonur finally ushered in the most grand rocket launch scene.The N1 rocket sleeping in the "space grave", as well as the painstaking efforts of countless predecessors, after 1991, the obscurity has finally ushered in the glorious prosperity in the history of Soviet aviation.

"One"

The bottom of the rocket ejected a dazzling flame, bright and eye-catching, like a rising sun, flying into space.

The screen shows that all the data are normal, and the launch vehicle is flying towards the deep space on the budgeted orbit. At that time, the Lotus satellite will be in orbit and complete its mission.

There was thunderous applause in the command post, instantly breaking the silence that could be heard just now when a needle was dropped.Everyone was hugging and cheering. The success of the Proton launch vehicle was like a booster, which greatly encouraged all aerospace industry personnel working in Baikonur.

Yanayev's frowning brows finally relaxed, and he smiled happily.

If it was said that Khrushchev just wanted to use the launch of manned spaceships to consolidate his political status in a hurry, then Yanayev was really for the future of the Soviet Union.Abandon those aviation projects that have no meaning for the time being, and focus on the research and development of various satellite project tests of the Soviet Union.In fact, Yanayev also envisioned connecting the Baikonur launch center with some aviation and commercial businesses.It was also a way of injecting new blood into the aging Soviet aviation sector.

Looking at the tears in everyone's eyes, Yanayev suddenly remembered that there was a symbolic tombstone in Baikonur's aviation cemetery, on which such a passage was engraved.

There is still a country I love behind me, how could it just fall down.

I would like to dedicate this to the ancestors who dedicated themselves to the aerospace industry.

thank you all.

Chapter 5 and Three Unnecessary Heroes

"Mitrovan Ivanovich Nedelin, the commander-in-chief of the Strategic Rocket Army, died in the intercontinental missile test at the Tyulatam Scientific Research Test Site in 1960. At that time, the P16 intercontinental missile was launched in an accident. Unfortunately, He was buried in the sea of ​​flames and became the first Soviet Marshal who died in an accident. At that time, Nosov, the deputy director of the Tyuratam Proving Ground, and Grigorianci, the head of the Tyuratam Proving Ground Administration, and Oss Tashov. Vice-Chairman of the State Missile Testing Committee Grishin, Chief Designer of the Missile Control System Konoplev, Deputy Chief Designer of the 586 Special Design Bureau Berlin and Kontsvoy, Deputy Chief Designer of the Glushko Design Bureau Master Felsov..."

"Comrade Vladimir Mikhailovich Komarov, the first pilot to enter space several times, and also the No.1 Soviet cosmonaut who died in manned spaceflight, died on April 1967 Lunar Soyuz accident."

It was supposed to be a celebration to celebrate the successful launch of the Lotus satellite, but Yanayev's speech seemed a bit unreasonable.He did not praise the success of the Soviet aerospace sector, and uncharacteristically talked about the failure of missile launches in the past.The joy that had been hanging on people's faces slowly subsided. They listened carefully to Yanayev's speech, and saw the unconcealable sadness on the face of the communist leader.

"I want to talk about the death of Comrade Komarov, when the ground personnel inspected the Soyuz 200 spacecraft and found more than [-] structural problems that would make the spacecraft's flight in space dangerous. However, No one dared to report these problems to Brezhnev, then the leader of the Soviet Union, for fear of being demoted and fired. So this task was still carried out as planned, which eventually led to tragedy."

"There is also Nedelin, the first commander-in-chief of the Strategic Rocket Army. In order to take the lead in the competition with the United States, and at the same time to repay Khrushchev's promotion of himself as the artillery commander last year, some incidents occurred during the preparation of the launch of the intercontinental missile. In the event of a failure, the advice of the chief commander at the Baikonur launch site to postpone the launch was rejected. In order to launch as soon as possible and gain time, the chief engineer had to violate regulations and allow inspections of various systems at the same time, instead of as required. One by one, it finally led to the accident."

There was silence all around. Yanayev's voice was not very loud, but it had a shocking power that made everyone listen to him quietly.

"Here, what I want to explain to you is that the aerospace sector of the Soviet Union, as a pillar industry, has an immeasurable status and prospects, but I also don't want you to follow the path of Khrushchev and Brezhnev. During the period, for the sake of competition, they disregarded the safety of other people’s lives, and chose to turn a blind eye to the tragedy that could have been avoided. Similarly, I don’t want to see the tragedy of Comrade Nedelin and Komarov happen again.”

Yanayev picked up the bouquet of flowers on the stage and said to everyone, "This is why I choose to come here with a bouquet of flowers, to apologize to the heroes who died in space accidents, and to our past. I apologize for the mistakes they made. Although they are buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery as a state funeral, I hope their souls wandering in Baikonur can rest in peace."

Apologize?General Secretary Yanayev actually apologized for the mistakes made by previous leaders?

No one dared to question Yanayev's decision, and no one dared to stop Yanayev's actions.Under the stunned eyes of others, Yanayev walked directly out of the launch center and walked towards the cemetery where the ruins of the aircraft were buried.The Blizzard is still quietly lying in the warehouse, lost its former glory, the huge abandoned engine of the N1 rocket is half buried in the loess.The glory of the past has gone with the wind, but the lessons learned from their failures have become the driving force guiding the Soviet space industry to continue moving forward.

"They used to be heroes." Minister Rikoputev, who was standing beside Yanayev, said slowly.

Yanayev placed the bouquet in front of the stele, which was erected in 1995 to commemorate the heroes who died in the history of Soviet aviation.The names of the victims of each accident are engraved on the stele. In the tragic accident in 1960 alone, there were more than 90 victims.

The dense steles record the tragic sacrifices in the history of Soviet aviation development. Just like the Chernobyl nuclear accident, the sacrifices of these people have brought alarm bells to the whole country.

Yanayev denied Minister Rikoputev's statement, "They were heroes once, are heroes now, and will be heroes of the Soviet Union in the future. Although they are sleeping under the yellow sand and no one knows their names, history cannot be erased after all. the merits of these men."

Yanayev stared at the name on the tombstone. The youngest victim was only 22 years old, a soldier who had been in the army for less than two years. The immature face in the black and white photo made Yanayev look a little dazzling.

He said to himself, "Shouldn't we go up in the face of an accident and let the people go up?"

"Comrade Rikoputev, just do me a favor." Yanayev turned his head, his eyes looked very serious, and he said word by word, "If it's for this country, do me a favor."

"General Secretary Yanayev, what do you want me to do for you?" Rikoputev was a little uncomfortable with the sudden change in the general secretary's attitude, but he still agreed.

Yanayev pointed to the name on the tombstone and said slowly, "The Soviet Union no longer needs such a hero."