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Biography of Tsiolkovsky brief content for children. Space philosophy of K.E. Tsiolkovsky. Life in Kaluga

Arrival in Borovsk and marriage

Work at school

Relations with Borovsk residents

Transfer to Kaluga

Kaluga (1892-1935)

Early 20th century (1902-1918)

Arrest and Lubyanka

Tsiolkovsky's life under Soviet rule (1918-1935)

Scientific achievements

Rocket dynamics

Theoretical astronautics

Tsiolkovsky and Oberth

Tsiolkovsky and music

Philosophical views

Space structure

Evolution of the mind

Evolution of humanity

Other sentient beings

Cosmic optimism

Science fiction writer

Essays

Collections and collections of works

Personal archive

Perpetuation of memory

Monuments

Numismatics and philately

Interesting Facts

Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky(Polish Konstanty Ciołkowski) (September 5 (17), 1857, Izhevskoe, Ryazan province, Russian Empire - September 19, 1935, Kaluga, USSR) - Russian and Soviet self-taught scientist and inventor, school teacher. Founder of theoretical cosmonautics. He justified the use of rockets for space flights and came to the conclusion about the need to use “rocket trains” - prototypes of multi-stage rockets. His main scientific works relate to aeronautics, rocket dynamics and astronautics.

Representative of Russian cosmism, member of the Russian Society of World Studies Lovers. Author of science fiction works, supporter and propagandist of the ideas of space exploration. Tsiolkovsky proposed populating outer space using orbital stations, put forward the ideas of a space elevator and hovercraft. He believed that the development of life on one of the planets of the Universe would reach such power and perfection that this would make it possible to overcome the forces of gravity and spread life throughout the Universe.

Biography

Origin. Tsiolkovsky family

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky came from the Polish noble family of the Tsiolkovskys (Polish. Ciołkowski) coat of arms of Jastrzębiec. The first mention of the Tsiolkovskys belonging to the noble class dates back to 1697.

According to family legend, the Tsiolkovsky family traced its genealogy to the Cossack Severin Nalivaiko, the leader of the anti-feudal peasant-Cossack uprising in Ukraine in the 16th century. Answering the question of how the Cossack family became noble, Sergei Samoilovich, a researcher of Tsiolkovsky’s work and biography, suggests that Nalivaiko’s descendants were exiled to the Plotsk Voivodeship, where they became related to a noble family and adopted their surname - Tsiolkovsky; This surname allegedly came from the name of the village of Tselkovo (that is, Telyatnikovo, Polish. Ciołkowo).

However, modern research does not confirm this legend. The genealogy of the Tsiolkovskys was restored approximately to the middle of the 17th century; their relationship with Nalivaiko has not been established and is only in the nature of a family legend. Obviously, this legend appealed to Konstantin Eduardovich himself - in fact, it is known only from himself (from autobiographical notes). In addition, in the copy of the “Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron” that belonged to the scientist, the article “Nalivaiko, Severin” is crossed out with a charcoal pencil - this is how Tsiolkovsky marked the most interesting places in the books for himself.

It is documented that the founder of the family was a certain Maciej (Polish. Maciey, in modern Polish spelling. Maciej), who had three sons: Stanislav, Yakov (Yakub, Polish. Jakub) and Valerian, who after the death of their father became the owners of the villages of Velikoye Tselkovo, Maloe Tselkovo and Snegovo. The surviving record says that the landowners of the Płock Voivodeship, the Tsiolkovsky brothers, took part in the election of the Polish king Augustus the Strong in 1697. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky is a descendant of Yakov.

By the end of the 18th century, the Tsiolkovsky family became greatly impoverished. In conditions of deep crisis and collapse of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Polish nobility also experienced difficult times. In 1777, 5 years after the first partition of Poland, K. E. Tsiolkovsky’s great-grandfather Tomas (Foma) sold the Velikoye Tselkovo estate and moved to the Berdichev district of the Kyiv voivodeship in Right Bank Ukraine, and then to the Zhitomir district of the Volyn province. Many subsequent representatives of the family held minor positions in the judiciary. Not having any significant privileges from their nobility, they forgot about it and their coat of arms for a long time.

On May 28, 1834, K. E. Tsiolkovsky’s grandfather, Ignatius Fomich, received certificates of “noble dignity” so that his sons, according to the laws of that time, would have the opportunity to continue their education. Thus, starting with father K. E. Tsiolkovsky, the family regained its noble title.

Parents of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

Konstantin's father, Eduard Ignatievich Tsiolkovsky (1820-1881, full name - Makar-Eduard-Erasm, Makary Edward Erazm). Born in the village of Korostyanin (now Goshchansky district, Rivne region in northwestern Ukraine). In 1841 he graduated from the Forestry and Land Surveying Institute in St. Petersburg, then served as a forester in the Olonets and St. Petersburg provinces. In 1843 he was transferred to the Pronsky forestry of the Spassky district of the Ryazan province. While living in the village of Izhevsk, he met his future wife Maria Ivanovna Yumasheva (1832-1870), mother of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. Having Tatar roots, she was raised in the Russian tradition. The ancestors of Maria Ivanovna moved to the Pskov province under Ivan the Terrible. Her parents, small landed nobles, also owned a cooperage and basketry workshop. Maria Ivanovna was an educated woman: she graduated from high school, knew Latin, mathematics and other sciences.

Almost immediately after the wedding in 1849, the Tsiolkovsky couple moved to the village of Izhevskoye, Spassky district, where they lived until 1860.

Childhood. Izhevskoe. Ryazan (1857-1868)

Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky was born on September 5 (17), 1857 in the village of Izhevsk near Ryazan. He was baptized in St. Nicholas Church. The name Konstantin was completely new in the Tsiolkovsky family; it was given by the name of the priest who baptized the baby.

At the age of nine, Kostya, while sledding at the beginning of winter, caught a cold and fell ill with scarlet fever. As a result of complications after a serious illness, he partially lost his hearing. There came what Konstantin Eduardovich later called “the saddest, darkest time of my life.” Hearing loss deprived the boy of many childhood fun and experiences familiar to his healthy peers.

At this time, Kostya first begins to show interest in craftsmanship. “I liked making doll skates, houses, sleds, clocks with weights, etc. All this was made of paper and cardboard and joined with sealing wax,” he would write later.

In 1868, the surveying and taxation classes were closed, and Eduard Ignatievich again lost his job. The next move was to Vyatka, where there was a large Polish community and the father of the family had two brothers, who probably helped him get the position of head of the Forestry Department.

Vyatka. Training at the gymnasium. Death of mother (1869-1873)

During their life in Vyatka, the Tsiolkovsky family changed several apartments. For the last 5 years (from 1873 to 1878) they lived in the wing of the Shuravin merchants' estate on Preobrazhenskaya Street.

In 1869, Kostya, together with his younger brother Ignatius, entered the first class of the Vyatka men's gymnasium. Studying was very difficult, there were a lot of subjects, the teachers were strict. Deafness was a big hindrance: “I couldn’t hear the teachers at all or heard only vague sounds.”

In the same year, sad news came from St. Petersburg - the elder brother Dmitry, who studied at the Naval School, died. This death shocked the whole family, but especially Maria Ivanovna. In 1870, Kostya’s mother, whom he loved dearly, died unexpectedly.

Grief crushed the orphaned boy. Already not shining with success in his studies, oppressed by the misfortunes that befell him, Kostya studied worse and worse. He became much more acutely aware of his deafness, which hampered his studies at school and made him more and more isolated. For pranks, he was repeatedly punished and ended up in a punishment cell. In the second grade, Kostya stayed for the second year, and from the third (in 1873) he was expelled with the characteristic “... for admission to a technical school.” After that, Konstantin never studied anywhere - he studied exclusively on his own; During these classes, he used his father's small library (which contained books on science and mathematics). Unlike gymnasium teachers, books generously endowed him with knowledge and never made the slightest reproach.

At the same time, Kostya became involved in technical and scientific creativity. He independently made an astrolabe (the first distance it measured was to a fire tower), a home lathe, self-propelled carriages and locomotives. The devices were driven by spiral springs, which Konstantin extracted from old crinolines bought at the market. He was fond of magic tricks and made various boxes in which objects appeared and disappeared. Experiments with a paper model of a hydrogen-filled balloon ended in failure, but Konstantin does not despair, continues to work on the model, and is thinking about a project for a car with wings.

Moscow. Self-education. Meeting with Nikolai Fedorov (1873-1876)

Believing in his son’s abilities, in July 1873, Eduard Ignatievich decided to send Konstantin to Moscow to enter the Higher Technical School (now Bauman Moscow State Technical University), providing him with a covering letter to his friend asking him to help him get settled. However, Konstantin lost the letter and only remembered the address: Nemetskaya Street (now Baumanskaya Street). Having reached it, the young man rented a room in the laundress’s apartment.

For unknown reasons, Konstantin never entered the school, but decided to continue his education on his own. Living literally on bread and water (my father sent me 10-15 rubles a month), I began to study hard. “I had nothing then except water and black bread. Every three days I went to the bakery and bought 9 kopecks worth of bread there. Thus, I lived on 90 kopecks a month.” To save money, Konstantin moved around Moscow only on foot. He spent all his free money on books, instruments and chemicals.

Every day from ten in the morning until three or four in the afternoon, the young man studied science in the Chertkovo Public Library - the only free library in Moscow at that time.

In this library, Tsiolkovsky met with the founder of Russian cosmism, Nikolai Fedorovich Fedorov, who worked there as an assistant librarian (an employee who was constantly in the hall), but never recognized the famous thinker in the humble employee. “He gave me forbidden books. Then it turned out that he was a famous ascetic, a friend of Tolstoy and an amazing philosopher and modest man. He gave away all his tiny salary to the poor. Now I see that he wanted to make me his boarder, but he failed: I was too shy,” Konstantin Eduardovich later wrote in his autobiography. Tsiolkovsky admitted that Fedorov replaced university professors for him. However, this influence manifested itself much later, ten years after the death of Moscow Socrates, and during his stay in Moscow, Konstantin knew nothing about the views of Nikolai Fedorovich, and they never spoke about Cosmos.

During the first year of his life in Moscow, Tsiolkovsky studied physics and the beginnings of mathematics. In 1874, the Chertkovsky Library moved to the building of the Rumyantsev Museum, and Nikolai Fedorov moved to a new place of work with it. In the new reading room, Konstantin studies differential and integral calculus, higher algebra, analytical and spherical geometry. Then astronomy, mechanics, chemistry.

In three years, Konstantin completely mastered the gymnasium curriculum, as well as a significant part of the university curriculum.

Unfortunately, his father could no longer pay for his stay in Moscow and, moreover, was not feeling well and was preparing to retire. With the knowledge he gained, Konstantin could easily begin independent work in the provinces, as well as continue his education outside of Moscow. In the fall of 1876, Eduard Ignatievich called his son back to Vyatka, and Konstantin returned home.

Return to Vyatka. Tutoring (1876-1878)

When teaching lessons, Tsiolkovsky used his own original methods, the main of which was a visual demonstration - Konstantin made paper models of polyhedra for geometry lessons, together with his students he conducted numerous experiments in physics lessons, which earned him the reputation of a teacher who well and clearly explains the material in his classes. always interesting. To make models and conduct experiments, Tsiolkovsky rented a workshop. He spent all his free time there or in the library. I read a lot - specialized literature, fiction, journalism. According to his autobiography, at this time I read the magazines Sovremennik, Delo, and Otechestvennye zapiski for all the years that they were published. At the same time, I read Isaac Newton’s “Principia,” whose scientific views Tsiolkovsky adhered to for the rest of his life.

By 1877, Eduard Ignatievich was already very weak and ill, the tragic death of his wife and children affected (except for the sons Dmitry and Ignatius, during these years the Tsiolkovskys lost their youngest daughter, Ekaterina - she died in 1875, during the absence of Konstantin), the head of the family left resign. In 1878, the entire Tsiolkovsky family returned to Ryazan.

Return to Ryazan. Examinations for the title of teacher (1878-1880)

Upon returning to Ryazan, the family lived on Sadovaya Street. Immediately after his arrival, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky passed a medical examination and was released from military service due to deafness. The family intended to buy a house and live on the income from it, but the unexpected happened - Konstantin quarreled with his father. As a result, Konstantin rented a separate room from the employee Palkin and was forced to look for other means of livelihood, since his personal savings accumulated from private lessons in Vyatka were coming to an end, and in Ryazan an unknown tutor without recommendations could not find students.

To continue working as a teacher, a certain, documented qualification was required. In the fall of 1879, at the First Provincial Gymnasium, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky took an external examination to become a district mathematics teacher. As a “self-taught” student, he had to pass a “full” exam - not only the subject itself, but also grammar, catechism, liturgy and other compulsory disciplines. Tsiolkovsky was never interested in or studied these subjects, but managed to prepare in a short time.

Having successfully passed the exam, Tsiolkovsky received a referral from the Ministry of Education to the position of teacher of arithmetic and geometry at the Borovsk district school in the Kaluga province (Borovsk was located 100 km from Moscow) and in January 1880 he left Ryazan.

Borovsk. Creating a family. Work at school. First scientific works and publications (1880-1892)

In Borovsk, the unofficial capital of the Old Believers, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky lived and taught for 12 years, started a family, made several friends, and wrote his first scientific works. At this time, his contacts with the Russian scientific community began, and his first publications were published.

Arrival in Borovsk and marriage

Upon arrival, Tsiolkovsky stayed in hotel rooms on the central square of the city. After a long search for more convenient housing, Tsiolkovsky, on the recommendation of the residents of Borovsk, “ended up living with a widower and his daughter who lived on the outskirts of the city” - E. E. Sokolov, a widower, a priest of the United Faith Church. He was given two rooms and a table of soup and porridge. Sokolov's daughter Varya was only two months younger than Tsiolkovsky; Her character and hard work pleased him, and soon Tsiolkovsky married her; they got married on August 20, 1880 in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. Tsiolkovsky did not take any dowry for the bride, there was no wedding, the wedding was not advertised.

In January of the following year, K. E. Tsiolkovsky’s father died in Ryazan.

Work at school

At the Borovsky district school, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky continued to improve as a teacher: he taught arithmetic and geometry in a non-standard way, came up with exciting problems and set up amazing experiments, especially for the Borovsky boys. Several times he and his students launched a huge paper balloon with a “gondola” containing burning splinters to heat the air.

Sometimes Tsiolkovsky had to replace other teachers and teach lessons in drawing, drawing, history, geography, and once even replaced the school superintendent.

First scientific works. Russian Physical and Chemical Society

After classes at the school and on weekends, Tsiolkovsky continued his research at home: he worked on manuscripts, made drawings, and performed experiments. In his house, electric lightning flashes, thunder rumbles, bells ring, paper dolls dance.

Tsiolkovsky's very first work was devoted to the application of mechanics in biology. It was the article “Graphic representation of sensations” written in 1880; In this work, Tsiolkovsky developed the pessimistic theory of the “shaken zero”, characteristic of him at that time, and mathematically substantiated the idea of the meaninglessness of human life (this theory, as the scientist later admitted, was destined to play a fatal role in his life and in the life of his family). Tsiolkovsky sent this article to the magazine “Russian Thought”, but it was not published there and the manuscript was not returned, and Konstantin switched to other topics.

In 1881, Tsiolkovsky wrote his first truly scientific work, “The Theory of Gases” (the manuscript of which has not been found). One day he was visited by student Vasily Lavrov, who offered his help, since he was heading to St. Petersburg and could submit the manuscript for consideration to the Russian Physicochemical Society (RFCS), a very authoritative scientific community in Russia at that time (Lavrov later transferred two following works by Tsiolkovsky). “The Theory of Gases” was written by Tsiolkovsky based on the books he had. Tsiolkovsky independently developed the foundations of the kinetic theory of gases. The article was reviewed, and Professor P. P. Fan der Fleet expressed his opinion about the study:

Soon Tsiolkovsky received an answer from Mendeleev: the kinetic theory of gases was discovered 25 years ago. This fact became an unpleasant discovery for Konstantin; the reasons for his ignorance were isolation from the scientific community and lack of access to modern scientific literature. Despite the failure, Tsiolkovsky continued his research. The second scientific work transferred to the Russian Federal Chemical Society was the 1882 article “Mechanics like a variable organism.” Professor Anatoly Bogdanov called studying the “mechanics of the animal body” “madness.” Ivan Sechenov’s review was generally approving, but the work was not allowed to be published:

The third work written in Borovsk and presented to the scientific community was the article “Duration of Radiation of the Sun” (1883), in which Tsiolkovsky described the mechanism of action of the star. He considered the Sun as an ideal gas ball, tried to determine the temperature and pressure at its center, and the lifetime of the Sun. Tsiolkovsky in his calculations used only the basic laws of mechanics (law of universal gravitation) and gas dynamics (Boyle-Mariotte law). The article was reviewed by Professor Ivan Borgman. According to Tsiolkovsky, he liked it, but since its original version contained practically no calculations, it “aroused mistrust.” Nevertheless, it was Borgman who proposed to publish the works presented by the teacher from Borovsk, which, however, was not done.

Members of the Russian Physicochemical Society unanimously voted to accept Tsiolkovsky into their ranks, as reported in a letter. However, Konstantin did not answer: “Naive savagery and inexperience,” he later lamented.

Tsiolkovsky’s next work, “Free Space,” 1883, was written in the form of a diary. This is a kind of thought experiment, the narrative is told on behalf of an observer located in free airless space and not experiencing the forces of attraction and resistance. Tsiolkovsky describes the sensations of such an observer, his capabilities and limitations in movement and manipulation of various objects. He analyzes the behavior of gases and liquids in “free space”, the functioning of various devices, and the physiology of living organisms - plants and animals. The main result of this work can be considered the principle first formulated by Tsiolkovsky about the only possible method of movement in “free space” - jet propulsion:

Metal airship theory. Society of Natural History Lovers. Russian Technical Society

One of the main problems that occupied Tsiolkovsky almost from the time he arrived in Borovsk was the theory of balloons. Soon he realized that this was the task that deserved the most attention:

Tsiolkovsky developed a balloon of his own design, which resulted in the voluminous work “Theory and experience of a balloon having an elongated shape in the horizontal direction” (1885-1886). It provided scientific and technical justification for the creation of a completely new and original design of an airship with a thin metal shell. Tsiolkovsky provided drawings of general views of the balloon and some important components of its design. The main features of the airship developed by Tsiolkovsky:

The volume of the shell was variables, which made it possible to save constant lifting force at different flight altitudes and temperatures of the atmospheric air surrounding the airship. This possibility was achieved due to corrugated sidewalls and a special tightening system.
Tsiolkovsky avoided the use of explosive hydrogen; his airship was filled with hot air. The lifting height of the airship could be adjusted using a separately developed heating system. The air was heated by passing engine exhaust gases through coils.
The thin metal shell was also corrugated, which increased its strength and stability. The corrugation waves were located perpendicular to the axis of the airship.

While working on this manuscript, Tsiolkovsky was visited by P. M. Golubitsky, already a well-known inventor in the field of telephony by that time. He invited Tsiolkovsky to go with him to Moscow and introduce himself to the famous Sofia Kovalevskaya, who had arrived briefly from Stockholm. However, Tsiolkovsky, by his own admission, did not dare to accept the offer: “My squalor and the resulting savagery prevented me from doing this. I didn't go. Maybe it's for the best."

Having refused a trip to Golubitsky, Tsiolkovsky took advantage of his other offer - he wrote a letter to Moscow, professor of Moscow University A. G. Stoletov, in which he talked about his airship. Soon a reply letter arrived with an offer to speak at the Moscow Polytechnic Museum at a meeting of the Physics Department of the Society of Natural History Lovers.

In April 1887, Tsiolkovsky arrived in Moscow and, after a lengthy search, found the museum building. His report was entitled “On the possibility of building a metal balloon capable of changing its volume and even folding into a plane.” I didn’t have to read the report itself, just explain the main points. The listeners reacted favorably to the speaker, there were no fundamental objections, and several simple questions were asked. After the report was completed, an offer was made to help Tsiolkovsky settle in Moscow, but no real help was forthcoming. On the advice of Stoletov, Konstantin Eduardovich handed over the manuscript of the report to N. E. Zhukovsky.

In his memoirs, Tsiolkovsky also mentions his acquaintance during this trip with the famous teacher A.F. Malinin, the author of textbooks on mathematics: “I considered his textbooks excellent and am very indebted to him.” They talked about aeronautics, but Tsiolkovsky failed to convince Malinin of the reality of creating a controlled airship. After returning from Moscow, there was a long break in his work on the airship, associated with illness, travel, restoration of the economy and scientific materials lost in the fire and flood.

In 1889, Tsiolkovsky continued work on his airship. Considering the failure in the Society of Natural History Lovers as a consequence of insufficient elaboration of his first manuscript on the balloon, Tsiolkovsky wrote a new article “On the possibility of constructing a metal balloon” (1890) and, together with a paper model of his airship, sent it to D. I. Mendeleev in St. Petersburg. Mendeleev, at the request of Tsiolkovsky, transferred all the materials to the Imperial Russian Technical Society (IRTO), V. I. Sreznevsky. Tsiolkovsky asked scientists to “help morally and morally as much as possible,” and also to allocate funds for the creation of a metal model of the balloon - 300 rubles. On October 23, 1890, at a meeting of the VII Department of the IRTS, Tsiolkovsky’s request was considered. The conclusion was given by military engineer E. S. Fedorov, a staunch supporter of heavier-than-air aircraft. The second opponent, the head of the first “personnel team of military aeronauts” A. M. Kovanko, like most of the other listeners, also denied the feasibility of devices like the one proposed. At this meeting, the IRTS decided:

Despite the refusal of support, Tsiolkovsky sent a letter of gratitude to the IRTS. A small consolation was the message in Kaluga Provincial Gazette, and then in some other newspapers: News of the Day, Petersburg Newspaper, Russian Invalid about Tsiolkovsky’s report. These articles paid tribute to the originality of the idea and design of the balloon, and also confirmed the correctness of the calculations made. Tsiolkovsky uses his own funds to make small models of balloon shells (30x50 cm) from corrugated metal and wire models of the frame (30x15 cm) to prove, including to himself, the possibility of using metal.

In 1891, Tsiolkovsky made one last attempt to protect his airship in the eyes of the scientific community. He wrote a large work, “Controllable Metal Balloon,” in which he took into account Zhukovsky’s comments and wishes, and on October 16 he sent it, this time to Moscow, A. G. Stoletov. There was no result again.

Then Konstantin Eduardovich turned to his friends for help and, using the funds raised, ordered the publication of a book at the Moscow printing house of M. G. Volchaninov. One of the donors was Konstantin Eduardovich’s school friend, the famous archaeologist A. A. Spitsyn, who was visiting the Tsiolkovskys at that time and conducting research on ancient human sites in the area of the St. Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery and at the mouth of the Isterma River. The publication of the book was carried out by Tsiolkovsky’s friend, teacher at the Borovsky School S.E. Chertkov. The book was published after Tsiolkovsky's transfer to Kaluga in two editions: the first - in 1892; the second - in 1893.

Other jobs. The first science fiction work. First publications

In 1887, Tsiolkovsky wrote a short story “On the Moon” - his first science fiction work. The story in many ways continues the traditions of “Free Space”, but is presented in a more artistic form and has a complete, albeit very conventional, plot. Two nameless heroes - the author and his physicist friend - unexpectedly end up on the moon. The main and only task of the work is to describe the impressions of the observer located on its surface. Tsiolkovsky’s story is distinguished by its persuasiveness, the presence of numerous details, and rich literary language:

In addition to the lunar landscape, Tsiolkovsky describes the view of the sky and luminaries (including the Earth) observed from the surface of the Moon. He analyzed in detail the consequences of low gravity, the absence of an atmosphere, and other features of the Moon (speed of rotation around the Earth and the Sun, constant orientation relative to the Earth).

Tsiolkovsky “observes” a solar eclipse (the disk of the Sun is completely hidden by the Earth):

On the Moon it is a frequent and grandiose phenomenon... The shadow covers either the entire Moon, or in most cases a significant part of its surface, so that complete darkness lasts for whole hours...

The sickle has become even narrower and, along with the Sun, is barely noticeable...

The sickle became completely invisible...

It was as if someone on one side of the star had flattened its luminous mass with an invisible giant finger.

Only half of the Sun is already visible.

Finally, the last particle of him disappeared, and everything was plunged into darkness. A huge shadow came running and covered us.

But blindness quickly disappears: we see the moon and many stars.

The moon has the shape of a dark circle, engulfed in a magnificent crimson glow, especially bright, although pale on the side where the rest of the Sun has disappeared.

I see the colors of dawn that we once admired from Earth.

And the surroundings are filled with crimson, as if with blood.

K. E. Tsiolkovsky. On the moon. Chapter 4.

The story also talks about the expected behavior of gases and liquids and measuring instruments. The features of physical phenomena are described: heating and cooling of surfaces, evaporation and boiling of liquids, combustion and explosions. Tsiolkovsky makes a number of deliberate assumptions in order to demonstrate lunar realities. Thus, the heroes, once on the Moon, do without air; the lack of atmospheric pressure does not affect them in any way - they do not experience any particular inconvenience while being on the surface of the Moon.

The denouement is as conventional as the rest of the plot - the author wakes up on Earth and finds out that he was sick and in a lethargic sleep, which he informs his physicist friend about, surprising him with the details of his fantastic dream.

Over the last two years of living in Borovsk (1890-1891), Tsiolkovsky wrote several articles on various issues. Thus, during the period October 6, 1890 - May 18, 1891, based on experiments on air resistance, he wrote a large work “On the question of flying with wings.” The manuscript was transferred by Tsiolkovsky to A.G. Stoletov, who gave it for review to N.E. Zhukovsky, who wrote a restrained but quite favorable review:

Tsiolkovsky was asked to select a fragment from this manuscript and rework it for publication. This is how the article “The pressure of a liquid on a plane uniformly moving in it” appeared, in which Tsiolkovsky studied the movement of a round plate in an air flow, using his own theoretical model, an alternative to Newton’s, and also proposed the design of the simplest experimental installation - a “turntable”. In the second half of May, Tsiolkovsky wrote a short essay - “How to protect fragile and delicate things from shocks and blows.” These two works were sent to Stoletov and in the second half of 1891 were published in the “Proceedings of the Department of Physical Sciences of the Society of Lovers of Natural History” (vol. IV) and became the first publication of the works of K. E. Tsiolkovsky.

Family

In Borovsk, the Tsiolkovskys had four children: the eldest daughter Lyubov (1881) and sons Ignatius (1883), Alexander (1885) and Ivan (1888). The Tsiolkovskys lived poorly, but, according to the scientist himself, “they didn’t wear patches and never went hungry.” Konstantin Eduardovich spent most of his salary on books, physical and chemical instruments, tools, and reagents.

Over the years of living in Borovsk, the family was forced to change their place of residence several times - in the fall of 1883, they moved to Kaluzhskaya Street to the house of the sheep farmer Baranov. Since the spring of 1885 they lived in Kovalev’s house (on the same Kaluzhskaya street).

On April 23, 1887, the day Tsiolkovsky returned from Moscow, where he gave a report on a metal airship of his own design, a fire broke out in his house, in which manuscripts, models, drawings, a library, as well as all the Tsiolkovsky property, with the exception of a sewing machine, were lost. which they managed to throw through the window into the yard. This was the hardest blow for Konstantin Eduardovich; he expressed his thoughts and feelings in the manuscript “Prayer” (May 15, 1887).

Another move to the house of M.I. Polukhina on Kruglaya Street. On April 1, 1889, the Protva flooded, and the Tsiolkovskys’ house was flooded. Records and books were again damaged.

Since the autumn of 1889, the Tsiolkovskys lived in the house of the Molchanov merchants at 4 Molchanovskaya Street.

Relations with Borovsk residents

Tsiolkovsky developed friendly and even friendly relations with some residents of the city. His first senior friend after arriving in Borovsk was the school caretaker, Alexander Stepanovich Tolmachev, who unfortunately died in January 1881, a little later than Konstantin Eduardovich’s father. Among others are history and geography teacher Evgeny Sergeevich Eremeev and his wife’s brother Ivan Sokolov. Tsiolkovsky also maintained friendly relations with the merchant N.P. Glukharev, investigator N.K. Fetter, in whose house there was a home library, in the organization of which Tsiolkovsky also took part. Together with I.V. Shokin, Konstantin Eduardovich was interested in photography, making and flying kites from a cliff above the Tekizhensky ravine.

However, for most of his colleagues and residents of the city, Tsiolkovsky was an eccentric. At the school, he never took “tribute” from careless students, did not give paid additional lessons, had his own opinion on all issues, did not take part in feasts and parties and never celebrated anything himself, kept himself apart, was unsociable and unsociable. For all these “oddities,” his colleagues nicknamed him Zhelyabka and “suspected him of something that didn’t happen.” Tsiolkovsky interfered with them, irritated them. Colleagues, for the most part, dreamed of getting rid of him and twice reported Konstantin to the Director of public schools of the Kaluga province D. S. Unkovsky for his careless statements regarding religion. After the first denunciation, a request came about Tsiolkovsky’s trustworthiness, Evgraf Yegorovich (then Tsiolkovsky’s future father-in-law) and the school superintendent A.S. Tolmachev vouched for him. The second denunciation arrived after Tolmachev’s death, under his successor E.F. Filippov, a man unscrupulous in business and behavior, who had an extremely negative attitude towards Tsiolkovsky. The denunciation almost cost Tsiolkovsky his job; he had to go to Kaluga to give explanations, spending most of his monthly salary on the trip.

Residents of Borovsk also did not understand Tsiolkovsky and shunned him, laughed at him, some even feared him, calling him a “crazy inventor.” Tsiolkovsky’s eccentricities and his way of life, which was radically different from the way of life of the inhabitants of Borovsk, often caused bewilderment and irritation.

So, one day, with the help of a pantograph, Tsiolkovsky made a large paper hawk - a copy of a folding Japanese toy enlarged several times - painted it and launched it in the city, and residents mistook it for a real bird.

In winter, Tsiolkovsky loved to ski and skate. I came up with the idea of driving on a frozen river with the help of a “sail” umbrella. Soon I made a sleigh with a sail using the same principle:

Tsiolkovsky, being a nobleman, was a member of the Noble Assembly of Borovsk, gave private lessons to the children of the Leader of the local nobility, Actual State Councilor D. Ya. Kurnosov, which protected him from further attacks by the caretaker Filippov. Thanks to this acquaintance, as well as success in teaching, Tsiolkovsky received the rank of provincial secretary (August 31, 1884), then collegiate secretary (November 8, 1885), and titular councilor (December 23, 1886). On January 10, 1889, Tsiolkovsky received the rank of collegiate assessor.

Transfer to Kaluga

On January 27, 1892, the director of public schools, D. S. Unkovsky, turned to the trustee of the Moscow educational district with a request to transfer “one of the most capable and diligent teachers” to the district school of the city of Kaluga. At this time, Tsiolkovsky continued his work on aerodynamics and the theory of vortices in various media, and also awaited the publication of the book “Controllable Metal Balloon” in the Moscow printing house. The decision to transfer was made on February 4. In addition to Tsiolkovsky, teachers moved from Borovsk to Kaluga: S. I. Chertkov, E. S. Eremeev, I. A. Kazansky, Doctor V. N. Ergolsky.

Kaluga (1892-1935)

(From the memoirs of Lyubov Konstantinovna, the scientist’s daughter)

Tsiolkovsky lived in Kaluga for the rest of his life. Since 1892 he worked as a teacher of arithmetic and geometry at the Kaluga district school. Since 1899, he taught physics classes at the diocesan women's school, which was disbanded after the October Revolution. In Kaluga, Tsiolkovsky wrote his main works on cosmonautics, the theory of jet propulsion, space biology and medicine. He also continued work on the theory of a metal airship.

After completing teaching in 1921, Tsiolkovsky was assigned a personal lifetime pension. From that moment until his death, Tsiolkovsky was exclusively engaged in his research, dissemination of his ideas, and implementation of projects.

In Kaluga, the main philosophical works of K. E. Tsiolkovsky were written, the philosophy of monism was formulated, and articles were written about his vision of an ideal society of the future.

In Kaluga, the Tsiolkovskys had a son and two daughters. At the same time, it was here that the Tsiolkovskys had to endure the tragic death of many of their children: out of K. E. Tsiolkovsky’s seven children, five died during his lifetime.

In Kaluga, Tsiolkovsky met scientists A. L. Chizhevsky and Ya. I. Perelman, who became his friends and popularizers of his ideas, and later biographers.

The first years of life in Kaluga (1892-1902)

The Tsiolkovsky family arrived in Kaluga on February 4, settled in an apartment in the house of N.I. Timashova on Georgievskaya Street, rented for them in advance. S. Eremeev. Konstantin Eduardovich began teaching arithmetic and geometry at the Kaluga Diocesan School (in 1918-1921 - at the Kaluga Labor School).

Soon after his arrival, Tsiolkovsky met Vasily Assonov, a tax inspector, an educated, progressive, versatile man, fond of mathematics, mechanics and painting. Having read the first part of Tsiolkovsky’s book “Controllable Metal Balloon,” Assonov used his influence to organize a subscription to the second part of this work. This made it possible to collect the missing funds for its publication.

On August 8, 1892, the Tsiolkovskys had a son, Leonty, who died of whooping cough exactly a year later, on his first birthday. At this time there were holidays at the school and Tsiolkovsky spent the whole summer on the Sokolniki estate in Maloyaroslavets district with his old acquaintance D. Ya. Kurnosov (leader of the Borovsk nobility), where he gave lessons to his children. After the death of the child, Varvara Evgrafovna decided to change her apartment, and when Konstantin Eduardovich returned, the family moved to the Speransky house, located opposite, on the same street.

Assonov introduced Tsiolkovsky to the chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod circle of physics and astronomy lovers S.V. Shcherbakov. In the 6th issue of the circle’s collection, Tsiolkovsky’s article “Gravity as the Main Source of World Energy” (1893) was published, developing the ideas of his earlier work “Duration of Radiation of the Sun” (1883). The work of the circle was regularly published in the newly created journal “Science and Life”, and in the same year the text of this report was published in it, as well as a short article by Tsiolkovsky “Is a metal balloon possible”. On December 13, 1893, Konstantin Eduardovich was elected an honorary member of the circle.

Around the same time, Tsiolkovsky became friends with the Goncharov family. Kaluga Bank appraiser Alexander Nikolaevich Goncharov, nephew of the famous writer I. A. Goncharov, was a comprehensively educated person, knew several languages, corresponded with many prominent writers and public figures, and regularly published his works of art, devoted mainly to the theme of decline and degeneration Russian nobility. Goncharov decided to support the publication of Tsiolkovsky’s new book - a collection of essays “Dreams about Earth and Sky” (1894), his second work of art, while Goncharov’s wife, Elizaveta Aleksandrovna, translated the article “An iron controlled balloon for 200 people, long sea steamer" into French and German and sent them to foreign magazines. However, when Konstantin Eduardovich wanted to thank Goncharov and, without his knowledge, placed the inscription on the cover of the book Edition by A. N. Goncharov, this led to a scandal and a break in relations between the Tsiolkovskys and the Goncharovs.

In Kaluga, Tsiolkovsky also did not forget about science, astronautics and aeronautics. He built a special installation that made it possible to measure some aerodynamic parameters of aircraft. Since the Physicochemical Society did not allocate a penny for his experiments, the scientist had to use family funds to conduct research. By the way, Tsiolkovsky built more than 100 experimental models at his own expense and tested them. After some time, society finally paid attention to the Kaluga genius and provided him with financial support - 470 rubles, with which Tsiolkovsky built a new, improved installation - a “blower”.

The study of the aerodynamic properties of bodies of various shapes and possible designs of aircraft gradually led Tsiolkovsky to think about options for flight in airless space and the conquest of space. In 1895, his book “Dreams of Earth and Sky” was published, and a year later an article was published about other worlds, intelligent beings from other planets and about the communication of earthlings with them. In the same year, 1896, Tsiolkovsky began writing his main work, “The Study of World Spaces with Reactive Instruments,” published in 1903. This book touched on the problems of using rockets in space.

In 1896-1898, the scientist took part in the Kaluzhsky Vestnik newspaper, which published both materials from Tsiolkovsky himself and articles about him.

Early 20th century (1902-1918)

The first fifteen years of the 20th century were the most difficult in the life of a scientist. In 1902, his son Ignatius committed suicide. In 1908, during the Oka flood, his house was flooded, many cars and exhibits were disabled, and numerous unique calculations were lost. On June 5, 1919, the Council of the Russian Society of Lovers of World Studies accepted K. E. Tsiolkovsky as a member and he, as a member of the scientific society, was awarded a pension. This saved him from starvation during the years of devastation, since on June 30, 1919, the Socialist Academy did not elect him as a member and thereby left him without a livelihood. The Physicochemical Society also did not appreciate the significance and revolutionary nature of the models presented by Tsiolkovsky. In 1923, his second son, Alexander, also committed suicide.

Arrest and Lubyanka

On November 17, 1919, five people raided the Tsiolkovskys’ house. After searching the house, they took the head of the family and brought him to Moscow, where he was imprisoned in Lubyanka. There he was interrogated for several weeks. According to some reports, a certain high-ranking official interceded on Tsiolkovsky’s behalf, as a result of which the scientist was released.

In 1918, Tsiolkovsky was elected one of the competing members of the Socialist Academy of Social Sciences (renamed the Communist Academy in 1924), and on November 9, 1921, the scientist was awarded a lifetime pension for services to domestic and world science. This pension was paid until September 19, 1935 - on that day Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky died of stomach cancer in his hometown of Kaluga.

Six days before his death, September 13, 1935, K. E. Tsiolkovsky wrote in a letter to I. V. Stalin:

The letter from the outstanding scientist soon received an answer: “To the famous scientist, Comrade K. E. Tsiolkovsky. Please accept my gratitude for a letter full of confidence in the Bolshevik Party and Soviet power. I wish you health and further fruitful work for the benefit of the working people. I shake your hand. I. Stalin."

The next day, a decree of the Soviet government was published on measures to perpetuate the memory of the great Russian scientist and on the transfer of his works to the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet. Subsequently, by decision of the government, they were transferred to the USSR Academy of Sciences, where a special commission was created to develop the works of K. E. Tsiolkovsky. The commission distributed the scientist’s scientific works into sections. The first volume contained all the works of K. E. Tsiolkovsky on aerodynamics; the second volume - works on jet aircraft; the third volume - works on all-metal airships, on increasing the energy of heat engines and various issues of applied mechanics, on the issues of watering deserts and cooling human habitations in them, the use of tides and waves and various inventions; the fourth volume included Tsiolkovsky’s works on astronomy, geophysics, biology, the structure of matter and other problems; finally, the fifth volume contains biographical materials and correspondence of the scientist.

In 1966, 31 years after the death of the scientist, the Orthodox priest Alexander Men performed the funeral ceremony over Tsiolkovsky’s grave.

Correspondence between Tsiolkovsky and Zabolotsky (since 1932)

In 1932, correspondence between Konstantin Eduardovich was established with one of the most talented “poets of Thought” of his time, seeking the harmony of the universe - Nikolai Alekseevich Zabolotsky. The latter, in particular, wrote to Tsiolkovsky: “ ...Your thoughts about the future of the Earth, humanity, animals and plants deeply concern me, and they are very close to me. In my unpublished poems and verses, I resolved them as best I could." Zabolotsky told him about the hardships of his own searches aimed at the benefit of humanity: “ It's one thing to know, and another to feel. The conservative feeling, brought up in us for centuries, clings to our consciousness and prevents it from moving forward." Tsiolkovsky’s natural philosophical research left an extremely significant imprint on the work of this author.

Scientific achievements

K. E. Tsiolkovsky claimed that he developed the theory of rocket science only as an application to his philosophical research. He wrote more than 400 works, most of which are little known to the general reader.

Tsiolkovsky's first scientific research dates back to 1880-1881. Not knowing about the discoveries already made, he wrote the work “Theory of Gases,” in which he outlined the foundations of the kinetic theory of gases. His second work, “Mechanics of the Animal Organism,” received a favorable review from I.M. Sechenov, and Tsiolkovsky was accepted into the Russian Physical and Chemical Society. Tsiolkovsky's main works after 1884 were associated with four major problems: the scientific basis for the all-metal balloon (airship), the streamlined airplane, the hovercraft, and the rocket for interplanetary travel.

Aeronautics and aerodynamics

Taking up the mechanics of controlled flight, Tsiolkovsky designed a controlled balloon (the word “airship” had not yet been invented). In the essay “Theory and Experience of the Balloon” (1892), Tsiolkovsky first gave scientific and technical justification for the creation of a controlled airship with metal shell(the balloons in use at that time with shells made of rubberized fabric had significant disadvantages: the fabric wore out quickly, the service life of the balloons was short; in addition, due to the permeability of the fabric, the hydrogen with which the balloons were then filled evaporated, and air penetrated into the shell and an explosive gas was formed gas (hydrogen + air) - a random spark was enough for an explosion to occur). Tsiolkovsky's airship was an airship variable volume(this made it possible to save constant lifting force at different flight altitudes and ambient temperatures), had a system heating gas (due to the heat of the exhaust gases of the engines), and the shell of the airship was corrugated(to increase strength). However, the Tsiolkovsky airship project, which was progressive for its time, did not receive support from official organizations; the author was denied a subsidy for the construction of the model.

In 1891, in the article “On the Question of Flying with Wings,” Tsiolkovsky addressed the new and little-studied field of heavier-than-air aircraft. Continuing to work on this topic, he came up with the idea of building an airplane with a metal frame. In the 1894 article “A balloon or a bird-like (aviation) flying machine,” Tsiolkovsky first gave a description, calculations and drawings of an all-metal monoplane with a thick curved wing. He was the first to substantiate the need for improvement streamlining airplane fuselage in order to obtain high speeds. In its appearance and aerodynamic layout, Tsiolkovsky’s airplane anticipated the designs of aircraft that appeared 15-18 years later; but the work on creating an airplane (as well as the work on creating Tsiolkovsky’s airship) did not receive recognition from official representatives of Russian science. Tsiolkovsky had neither the funds nor even moral support for further research.

Among other things, in an article in 1894, Tsiolkovsky provided a diagram of the aerodynamic balances he designed. The working model of the “turntable” was demonstrated by N. E. Zhukovsky in Moscow at the Mechanical Exhibition held in January of this year.

In his apartment, Tsiolkovsky created the first aerodynamic laboratory in Russia. In 1897, he built the first aerodynamic tube in Russia with an open working part and proved the need for a systematic experiment to determine the forces of influence of the air flow on a body moving in it. He developed a technique for such an experiment and in 1900, with a subsidy from the Academy of Sciences, he made purging of the simplest models and determined the drag coefficient of a ball, flat plate, cylinder, cone and other bodies; described the flow of air around bodies of various geometric shapes. Tsiolkovsky's work in the field of aerodynamics was a source of ideas for N. E. Zhukovsky.

Tsiolkovsky worked a lot and fruitfully on creating the theory of flight of jet aircraft, invented his own gas turbine engine design; in 1927 he published the theory and diagram of a hovercraft train. He was the first to propose a “bottom-retractable chassis” chassis.

Basics of jet propulsion theory

Tsiolkovsky had been systematically studying the theory of motion of jet propulsion since 1896 (thoughts about using the rocket principle in space were expressed by Tsiolkovsky back in 1883, but the strict theory of jet propulsion was outlined by him later). In 1903, the journal “Scientific Review” published an article by K. E. Tsiolkovsky “Investigation of world spaces using jet instruments”, in which he, based on the simplest laws of theoretical mechanics (the law of conservation of momentum and the law of independence of the action of forces), developed the fundamentals theory of jet propulsion and conducted a theoretical study of the rectilinear movements of a rocket, justifying the possibility of using jet vehicles for interplanetary communications.

Mechanics of bodies of variable composition

Thanks to the in-depth research of I.V. Meshchersky and K.E. Tsiolkovsky at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. the foundations of a new branch of theoretical mechanics were laid - mechanics of bodies of variable composition. If in the main works of Meshchersky, published in 1897 and 1904, the general equations of the dynamics of a point of variable composition were derived, then in the work “Study of world spaces with reactive instruments” (1903) Tsiolkovsky contained the formulation and solution of classical problems of the mechanics of bodies of variable composition - the first and the second Tsiolkovsky problem. Both of these problems, discussed below, equally relate to both the mechanics of bodies of variable composition and rocket dynamics.

Tsiolkovsky's first task: find the change in the speed of a point of variable composition (in particular, a rocket) in the absence of external forces and the constancy of the relative speed of particle separation (in the case of a rocket, the speed of the outflow of combustion products from the rocket engine nozzle).

In accordance with the conditions of this problem, the Meshchersky equation in projection onto the direction of motion of the point has the form:

where and are the current mass and speed of the point. Integration of this differential equation gives the following law of change in the speed of a point:

the current value of the speed of a point of variable composition depends, therefore, on the value and law according to which the mass of the point changes over time: .

In the case of a rocket, where is the mass of the rocket body with all equipment and payload, and is the mass of the initial fuel supply. For the speed of the rocket at the end of the active phase of the flight (when all the fuel is used up), the Tsiolkovsky formula is obtained:

It is important that the maximum speed of a rocket does not depend on the law according to which fuel is consumed.

Tsiolkovsky's second problem: find the change in the speed of a point of variable composition during a vertical rise in a uniform gravitational field in the absence of environmental resistance (the relative speed of particle separation is still considered constant).

Here the Meshchersky equation in projection onto the vertical axis takes the form

where is the acceleration of free fall. After integration we get:

and for the end of the active part of the flight we have:

Tsiolkovsky's study of the rectilinear motions of rockets significantly enriched the mechanics of bodies of variable composition due to the formulation of completely new problems. Unfortunately, Meshchersky's work was unknown to Tsiolkovsky, and in a number of cases he again came to the results previously obtained by Meshchersky.

However, an analysis of Tsiolkovsky’s manuscripts shows that it is impossible to talk about his significant lag in work on the theory of motion of bodies of variable composition from Meshchersky. Tsiolkovsky's formula in the form

found in his mathematical notes and dated: May 10, 1897; just this year, the derivation of the general equation of motion of a material point of variable composition was published in the dissertation of I. V. Meshchersky (“Dynamics of a point of variable mass”, I. V. Meshchersky, St. Petersburg, 1897).

Rocket dynamics

In 1903, K. E. Tsiolkovsky published the article “Exploration of world spaces using jet instruments,” where he was the first to prove that a rocket was a device capable of space flight. The article also proposed the first project long range missiles. Its body was an oblong metal chamber equipped with a liquid jet engine; He proposed using liquid hydrogen and oxygen as fuel and oxidizer, respectively. To control the flight of the rocket, it was provided gas rudders.

The result of the first publication was not at all what Tsiolkovsky expected. Neither compatriots nor foreign scientists appreciated the research that science is proud of today - it was simply an era ahead of its time. In 1911, the second part of the work “Exploration of world spaces with jet instruments” was published, where Tsiolkovsky calculates the work to overcome the force of gravity, determines the speed required for the device to enter the solar system (“second cosmic speed”) and the flight time. This time, Tsiolkovsky's article made a lot of noise in the scientific world, and he made many friends in the world of science.

Tsiolkovsky put forward the idea of using composite (multistage) rockets (or, as he called them, “rocket trains”) for space flights and proposed two types of such rockets (with a serial and parallel connection of stages). With his calculations, he substantiated the most favorable distribution of the masses of the missiles included in the “train”. In a number of his works (1896, 1911, 1914), a rigorous mathematical theory of the motion of single-stage and multi-stage rockets with liquid jet engines was developed in detail.

In 1926-1929, Tsiolkovsky solved a practical question: how much fuel should be taken into a rocket in order to obtain the liftoff speed and leave the Earth. It turned out that the final speed of the rocket depends on the speed of the gases flowing out of it and on how many times the weight of the fuel exceeds the weight of the empty rocket.

Tsiolkovsky was proposed and rocket launch from an overpass(sloping guide), which was reflected in early science fiction films. Currently, this method of launching a rocket is used in military artillery in multiple launch rocket systems (Katyusha, Grad, Smerch, etc.).

Another idea of Tsiolkovsky is the idea of refueling rockets during flight. Calculating the take-off weight of a rocket depending on the fuel, Tsiolkovsky offers a fantastic solution of transferring fuel “on the fly” from sponsor rockets. In Tsiolkovsky’s scheme, for example, 32 missiles were launched; 16 of which, having used up half of the fuel, were supposed to give it to the remaining 16, which, in turn, having used up half the fuel, should also split into 8 missiles that would fly further, and 8 missiles that would give their fuel to the first missiles groups - and so on, until there is only one rocket left, which is intended to achieve the goal.

Theoretical astronautics

In theoretical cosmonautics, Tsiolkovsky studied the rectilinear motion of rockets in a Newtonian gravitational field. He applied the laws of celestial mechanics to determine the possibilities of implementing flights in the solar system and studied the physics of flight in conditions of weightlessness. Determined the optimal flight trajectories during descent to Earth; in his work “Spaceship” (1924), Tsiolkovsky analyzed the gliding descent of a rocket in the atmosphere, which occurs without expenditure of fuel when returning from an extra-atmospheric flight along a spiral trajectory encircling the Earth.

One of the pioneers of Soviet cosmonautics, Professor M.K. Tikhonravov, discussing the contribution of K.E. Tsiolkovsky to theoretical cosmonautics, wrote that his work “Exploration of world spaces with jet instruments” can be called almost comprehensive. In it, a liquid fuel rocket was proposed for flights in outer space (at the same time, the possibility of using electric propulsion engines was indicated), the fundamentals of the flight dynamics of rocket vehicles were outlined, the medical and biological problems of long-term interplanetary flights were considered, the need to create artificial Earth satellites and orbital stations was indicated, and the social significance of the entire complex of human space activities.

Tsiolkovsky defended the idea of diversity of life forms in the Universe and was the first theorist and promoter of human exploration of outer space.

Tsiolkovsky and Oberth

Hermann Oberth himself described his contribution to astronautics as follows:

Research in other areas

Tsiolkovsky and music

Hearing problems did not prevent the scientist from understanding music well. There is his work “The Origin of Music and Its Essence.” The Tsiolkovsky family had a piano and a harmonium.

Tsiolkovsky as an opponent of Einstein's theory of relativity

Tsiolkovsky was skeptical about Albert Einstein's theory of relativity (relativistic theory). In a letter to V.V. Ryumin dated April 30, 1927, Tsiolkovsky wrote:

In the Tsiolkovsky archive, Konstantin Eduardovich cut out from Pravda the articles by A. F. Ioffe “What do experiments say about Einstein’s theory of relativity” and A. K. Timiryazev “Do experiments confirm the theory of relativity”, “Dayton-Miller experiments and the theory of relativity” .

On February 7, 1935, in the article “The Bible and the Scientific Trends of the West,” Tsiolkovsky published objections to the theory of relativity, where he, in particular, denied the limited size of the Universe at 200 million light years according to Einstein. Tsiolkovsky wrote:

In the same work, he denied the theory of the expanding Universe on the basis of spectroscopic observations (red shift) according to E. Hubble, considering this shift to be a consequence of other reasons. In particular, he explained the red shift by the slowing down of the speed of light in the cosmic environment, caused by “the obstacle from ordinary matter scattered everywhere in space,” and pointing out the dependence: “the faster the apparent movement, the further away the nebula (galaxy).”

Regarding the limit on the speed of light according to Einstein, Tsiolkovsky wrote in the same article:

Tsiolkovsky also denied time dilation in the theory of relativity:

Tsiolkovsky spoke with bitterness and indignation about “multi-story hypotheses”, the foundation of which contains nothing but purely mathematical exercises, although interesting, but representing nonsense. He stated:

Tsiolkovsky also expressed his opinions on the topic of relativism (in a harsh form) in private correspondence. Lev Abramovich Kassil, in the article “The Astronaut and Countrymen,” claimed that Tsiolkovsky wrote letters to him, “where he angrily argued with Einstein, reproaching him ... for unscientific idealism.” However, when one of the biographers tried to get acquainted with these letters, it turned out that, according to Kassil, “the irreparable happened: the letters were lost.”

Philosophical views

Space structure

Tsiolkovsky calls himself a “pure materialist”: he believes that only matter exists, and the entire cosmos is nothing more than a very complex mechanism.

Space and time are infinite, therefore the number of stars and planets in space is infinite. The Universe has always had and will have one form - “many planets illuminated by the sun’s rays”, cosmic processes are periodic: every star, planetary system, galaxy ages and dies, but then, exploding, is reborn again - there is only a periodic transition between simpler (rarefied) gas) and more complex (stars and planets) state of matter.

Evolution of the mind

Tsiolkovsky admits the existence of higher beings compared to people who will come from people or are already on other planets.

Evolution of humanity

Today's man is an immature, transitional creature. Soon a happy social order will be established on Earth, universal unification will come, and wars will stop. The development of science and technology will radically change the environment. The person himself will change, becoming a more perfect being.

Other sentient beings

There are many habitable planets in the Universe. Beings more advanced than man, who populate the Universe in large numbers, probably have some influence on humanity.

It is also possible that a person may be influenced by creatures of a completely different nature, left over from previous cosmic eras: “...Matter did not immediately appear as dense as it is now. There were stages of incomparably more rarefied matter. She could create creatures that are now inaccessible to us, invisible,” “intelligent, but almost insubstantial due to their low density.” We can allow them to penetrate “our brain and interfere with human affairs.”

The Spread of Intelligence in the Universe

Perfect humanity will settle on other planets and artificially created objects of the solar system. At the same time, creatures adapted to the corresponding environment will form on different planets. The dominant type of organism will be one that does not require an atmosphere and “feeds directly on solar energy.” Then the settlement will continue beyond the solar system. Just like perfect people, representatives of other worlds also spread throughout the Universe, while “reproduction proceeds millions of times faster than on Earth. However, it is regulated at will: you need a perfect population - it is born quickly and in any number.” Planets unite in unions, and entire solar systems will also unite, and then their unions, etc.

Encountering rudimentary or malformed forms of life during settlement, highly developed beings destroy them and populate such planets with their representatives, who have already reached the highest stage of development. Since perfection is better than imperfection, higher beings “painlessly eliminate” lower (animal) forms of life in order to “relieve them from the pains of development,” from the painful struggle for survival, mutual extermination, etc. “Is this good, isn’t it cruel? If it were not for their intervention, the painful self-destruction of animals would have continued for millions of years, as it continues on Earth today. Their intervention in a few years, even days, destroys all suffering and puts in its place an intelligent, powerful and happy life. It is clear that the latter is millions of times better than the former.”

Life spreads throughout the Universe primarily by settlement, and does not spontaneously generate, as on Earth; it is infinitely faster and avoids countless suffering in a self-evolving world. Spontaneous generation is sometimes allowed for renewal, an influx of fresh forces into the community of perfect beings; such is the “martyrdom and honorable role of the Earth,” martyrdom - because the independent path to perfection is full of suffering. But “the sum of these sufferings is invisible in the ocean of happiness of the entire cosmos.”

Panpsychism, the mind of the atom and immortality

Tsiolkovsky is a panpsychist: he claims that all matter has sensitivity (the ability to mentally “feel pleasant and unpleasant”), only the degree varies. Sensitivity decreases from humans to animals and further, but does not disappear completely, since there is no clear boundary between living and nonliving matter.

The spread of life is a good, and the greater the more perfect, that is, more intelligent this life is, for “reason is what leads to the eternal well-being of every atom.” Each atom, entering the brain of a rational being, lives his life, experiences his feelings - and this is the highest state of existence for matter. “Even in one animal, wandering around the body, it [the atom] lives now the life of the brain, now the life of the bone, hair, nail, epithelium, etc. This means that it either thinks or lives like an atom enclosed in stone, water or air. Either he sleeps, unaware of time, then he lives in the moment, like lower beings, then he is aware of the past and draws a picture of the future. The higher the organization of a being, the further this idea of the future and past extends.” In this sense, there is no death: the periods of inorganic existence of atoms fly by for them like sleep or fainting, when sensitivity is almost absent; becoming part of the brain of organisms, each atom “lives their life and feels the joy of a conscious and cloudless existence,” and “all these incarnations subjectively merge into one subjectively continuous beautiful and endless life.” Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of death: after the death and destruction of the organism, the time of the inorganic existence of the atom flies by, “passes for it like zero. It is subjectively absent. But the population of the Earth in such a period of time is completely transformed. The globe will then be covered only with the highest forms of life, and our atom will use only them. This means that death ends all suffering and gives, subjectively, immediate happiness.”

Cosmic optimism

Since there are countless worlds in space inhabited by highly developed beings, they have undoubtedly already populated almost the entire space. “...In general, the cosmos contains only joy, contentment, perfection and truth... leaving so little for the rest that it can be considered like a black speck of dust on a white sheet of paper.”

Space ages and “radiant humanity”

Tsiolkovsky suggests that the evolution of the cosmos may represent a series of transitions between the material and energy states of matter. The final stage of the evolution of matter (including intelligent beings) may be the final transition from a material state to an energetic, “radiant” one. “...We must think that energy is a special type of simplest matter, which sooner or later will again give the hydrogen matter known to us,” and then the cosmos will again turn into a material state, but at a higher level, again man and all matter will evolve to an energy state, and etc. in a spiral, and finally, at the highest turn of this spiral of development, “mind (or matter) will know everything, the very existence of individual individuals and the material or corpuscular world it will consider unnecessary and will move into a high-order ray state, which will know everything and nothing not to desire, that is, into that state of consciousness that the human mind considers the prerogative of the gods. The cosmos will turn into great perfection."

Eugenic theories of Tsiolkovsky

According to the philosophical concept, which Tsiolkovsky published in a series of brochures published at his own expense, the future of humanity directly depends on the number of geniuses being born, and to increase the birth rate of the latter, Tsiolkovsky comes up with, in his opinion, a perfect program of eugenics. In his opinion, the best houses had to be built in every locality, where the best brilliant representatives of both sexes should live, for whose marriage and subsequent childbearing it was necessary to obtain permission from above. Thus, after a few generations, the proportion of gifted people and geniuses in each city would increase rapidly.

Science fiction writer

Tsiolkovsky's science fiction works are little known to a wide range of readers. Perhaps because they are closely related to his scientific works. His early work “Free Space,” written in 1883 (published in 1954), is very close to fantasy. Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky is the author of science fiction works: “Dreams about Earth and Heaven” (collection of works), “On Vesta”, the story “On the Moon” (first published in the supplement to the magazine “Around the World” in 1893, reprinted several times during Soviet times).

Essays

Collections and collections of works

Work on rocket navigation, interplanetary communications and others

Personal archive

On May 15, 2008, the Russian Academy of Sciences, custodian of the personal archive of Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky, published it on its website. These are 5 inventories of fund 555, which contain 31,680 sheets of archival documents.

Awards

Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd degree. For conscientious work he was presented with an award in May 1906, issued in August.
Order of St. Anne, 3rd degree. Awarded in May 1911 for conscientious work, at the request of the council of the Kaluga Diocesan Women's School.
For special services in the field of inventions of great importance for the economic power and defense of the USSR, Tsiolkovsky was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1932. The award is timed to coincide with the celebration of the scientist’s 75th birthday.

Perpetuation of memory

On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tsiolkovsky in 1954, the USSR Academy of Sciences established a gold medal named after. K. E. Tsiolkovsky “3a outstanding works in the field of interplanetary communications.”
Monuments to the scientist were erected in Kaluga, Moscow, Ryazan, Dolgoprudny, and St. Petersburg; a memorial house-museum was created in Kaluga, a house-museum in Borovsk and a house-museum in Kirov (formerly Vyatka); The State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics and the Pedagogical Institute (now Kaluga State University), a school in Kaluga, and the Moscow Aviation Technology Institute bear his name.
A crater on the Moon and the minor planet 1590 Tsiolkovskaja are named after Tsiolkovsky.
In Moscow, St. Petersburg, Irkutsk, Lipetsk, Tyumen, Kirov, Ryazan, Voronezh, as well as in many other settlements, there are streets named after him.
Since 1966, Scientific Readings in memory of K. E. Tsiolkovsky have been held in Kaluga.
In 1991, the Academy of Cosmonautics named after. K. E. Tsiolkovsky. On June 16, 1999, the Academy was given the name “Russian”.
On January 31, 2002, the Tsiolkovsky Badge was established - the highest departmental award of the Federal Space Agency.
In the year of the 150th anniversary of the birth of K. E. Tsiolkovsky, the cargo ship “Progress M-61” was given the name “Konstantin Tsiolkovsky”, and a portrait of the scientist was placed on the head fairing. The launch took place on August 2, 2007.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s. A project was developed for the Soviet automatic interplanetary station “Tsiolkovsky” to study the Sun and Jupiter, which was planned for launch in the 1990s, but was not implemented due to the collapse of the USSR.
In February 2008, K. E. Tsiolkovsky was awarded the public award “Symbol of Science” medal, “for creating the source of all projects for human exploration of new spaces in Space.”
Postage stamps dedicated to Tsiolkovsky were issued in the USSR and Kazakhstan.
One of the Aeroflot Airbus A321 aircraft is named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky.
Traditional motocross competitions dedicated to the memory of Tsiolkovsky are held annually in Kaluga.

Monuments

Numismatics and philately

Movies

“Space Prophet”, a documentary film about K. E. Tsiolkovsky produced by the Roscosmos television studio.
“Space Flight”, Tsiolkovsky acted as a scientific consultant.

In feature films, the image of Tsiolkovsky was embodied by:

Georgy Solovyov (“Road to the Stars”, 1957)
Yu. Koltsov (“Man from Planet Earth”, 1958)
Innokenty Smoktunovsky (“Taming the Fire”, 1972)
Evgeny Yevtushenko (“Take Off”, 1979)
Sergei Yursky (“Korolev”, 2006)

In September 2007, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of K. E. Tsiolkovsky, a new monument was unveiled in Borovsk on the site of the previously destroyed one. The monument is made in popular folklore style and depicts an already elderly scientist sitting on a tree stump and looking at the sky. The project was received ambiguously by city residents and specialists studying the scientific and creative heritage of Tsiolkovsky. At the same time, as part of the “Days of Russia in Australia”, a copy of the monument was installed in the Australian city of Brisbane, near the entrance to the Observatory on Mount Kutta.
Alexander Belyaev, inspired by the genius of Konstantin Eduardovich, wrote a science fiction novel “KETS Star”, which reflects many of the inventor’s ideas. In addition, “KETS” in this title stands for “Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky.”
On September 17, 2012, in honor of the 155th anniversary of the birth of K. E. Tsiolkovsky, Google posted a festive doodle on its main page.

SIBERIAN STATE GEODETIC ACADEMY

Institute of Geodesy and Management

Department of Astronomy and Gravimetry

Abstract on the discipline “General Astronomy”

"Tsiolkovsky. Biography and main scientific works"

Novosibirsk 2010

Introduction

1. Childhood and self-education K.E. Tsiolkovsky

2. Scientific works

3. Scientific achievements

4. Tsiolkovsky as an opponent of Einstein’s theory of relativity

5. Tsiolkovsky’s awards and perpetuation of his memory

Conclusion

List of used literature

Introduction

I chose this topic because Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky is a scientist with a capital “S”. His scientific works have been studied and will continue to be studied for a long time. Tsiolkovsky made a great contribution to the development of natural sciences, so such a person cannot be ignored. He is an author on aerodynamics, aeronautics and many others. Representative of Russian cosmism, member of the Russian Society of World Studies Lovers. The author of science fiction works, a supporter and propagandist of the idea of space exploration using orbital stations, put forward the idea of a space elevator. He believed that the development of life on one of the planets of the Universe would reach such power and perfection that this would make it possible to overcome the forces of gravity and spread life throughout the Universe.

Childhood and self-education K.E. Tsiolkovsky

Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky was born on September 5, 1857, in the family of a Polish nobleman who served in the department of state property, in the village of Izhevskoye near Ryazan. He was baptized in St. Nicholas Church. The name Konstantin was completely new in the Tsiolkovsky family; it was given after the name of the priest who baptized the baby.

Konstantin had a chance to live in Izhevsk for only a short time - the first three years of his life, and he had almost no memories of this period. Eduard Ignatievich (Konstantin's father) began to have troubles in his service - his superiors were dissatisfied with his liberal attitude towards local peasants. In 1860, Konstantin’s father received a transfer to Ryazan to the position of clerk of the Forestry Department, and soon began teaching natural history in the surveying and taxation classes of the Ryazan gymnasium and received a chintitular adviser.

Tsiolkovsky and his brothers’ primary education was provided to them by their mother. It was she who taught Konstantin to read (his mother only taught him the alphabet, but Tsiolkovsky himself figured out how to put words together from letters), write, and introduced him to the basics of arithmetic.

At the age of 9, Tsiolkovsky, while sledding in winter, caught a cold and fell ill with scarlet fever. As a result of complications from the illness, he lost his hearing. There came what Konstantin Eduardovich later called “the saddest, darkest time of my life.” At this time, Tsiolkovsky first began to show interest in craftsmanship.

In 1868, the Tsiolkovsky family moved to Vyatka. In 1869, together with his younger brother Ignatius, he entered the first class of the Vyatka men's gymnasium. Studying was very difficult, there were a lot of subjects, the teachers were strict. Deafness was a big problem. In the same year, sad news came from St. Petersburg - the elder brother Dmitry, who studied at the Naval School, died. This death shocked the whole family, but especially Maria Ivanovna. In 1870, Kostya’s mother, whom he loved dearly, died unexpectedly. Grief crushed the orphaned boy. Already not shining with success in his studies, oppressed by the misfortunes that befell him, Kostya studied worse and worse. He became much more acutely aware of his deafness, which made him more and more isolated. For his pranks, he was repeatedly punished and ended up in a punishment cell.

In the second grade, Tsiolkovsky stayed for the second year, and was expelled from the third. After which Konstantin Eduardovich never studied anywhere - he studied exclusively on his own. Books become the boy's only friends. Unlike gymnasium teachers, books generously endow him with knowledge and never make the slightest reproach.

At the same time, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky became involved in technical and scientific creativity. He independently made a home lathe, self-propelled carriages and locomotives. I was interested in magic tricks and was thinking about a project for a car with wings.

His son's abilities become obvious to the father, and he decides to send the boy to Moscow to continue his education. Every day from 10 a.m. until 3–4 p.m., the young man studies science in the Chertkovo Public Library, the only free library in Moscow at that time.

Work in the library was subject to a clear routine. In the morning, Konstantin studied exact and natural sciences, which required concentration and clarity of mind. Then he switched to simpler material: fiction and journalism. He actively studied “thick” magazines, where both review scientific articles and journalistic articles were published. I enthusiastically read Shakespeare, Leo Tolstoy, Turgenev, and admired the articles of Dmitry Pisarev: “Pisarev made me tremble with joy and happiness. In him I then saw my second “I.” During the first year of his life in Moscow, Tsiolkovsky studied physics and basic mathematics. In 1874, the Chertkovsky Library moved to the building of the Rumyantsev Museum. In the new reading room, Konstantin studies differential and integral calculus, higher algebra, analytical and spherical geometry. Then astronomy, mechanics, chemistry. In three years, Konstantin completely mastered the gymnasium curriculum, as well as a significant part of the university curriculum. Unfortunately, his father could no longer pay for his stay in Moscow and, moreover, was not feeling well and was preparing to retire. With the knowledge he gained, Konstantin could easily begin independent work in the provinces, as well as continue his education outside of Moscow. In the fall of 1876, Eduard Ignatievich called his son back to Vyatka, and Konstantin returned home.

Konstantin returned to Vyatka weak, emaciated and emaciated. Difficult living conditions in Moscow and intense work also led to deterioration of vision. After returning home, Tsiolkovsky began wearing glasses. Having regained his strength, Konstantin began giving private lessons in physics and mathematics. I learned my first lesson thanks to my father’s connections in liberal society. Having proven himself to be a talented teacher, he subsequently had no shortage of students. When teaching lessons, Tsiolkovsky used his own original methods, the main of which was a visual demonstration - Konstantin made paper models of polyhedra for geometry lessons, together with his students he conducted numerous experiments in physics lessons, which earned him the reputation of a teacher who explains the material well and clearly, and whose classes are always interesting . He spent all his free time there or in the library. I read a lot - specialized literature, fiction, journalism. According to his autobiography, at this time he read “Principia” by Isaac Newton, whose scientific views Tsiolkovsky adhered to for the rest of his life.

At the end of 1876, Konstantin's younger brother Ignatius died. The brothers were very close from childhood, Konstantin trusted Ignatius with his most intimate thoughts, and his brother’s death was a heavy blow. By 1877, Eduard Ignatievich was already very weak and ill, the tragic death of his wife and children affected (except for the sons Dmitry and Ignatius, during these years the Tsiolkovskys lost their youngest daughter, Ekaterina, she died in 1875, during the absence of Konstantin), the head of the family retired . In 1878, the entire Tsiolkovsky family returned to Ryazan.

Scientific works

Tsiolkovsky's very first work was devoted to mechanics in biology. It was the article “Graphic representation of sensations” written in 1880. In it, Tsiolkovsky developed the pessimistic theory of “turbulent zero”, characteristic of him at that time, and mathematically substantiated the idea of the meaninglessness of human life. Tsiolkovsky sent this article to the Russian Thought magazine, but it was not published there and the manuscript was not returned. Tsiolkovsky switched to other topics.

In 1881, Tsiolkovsky wrote his first genuine scientific work, “Theories of Gases.” Tsiolkovsky independently developed the foundations of the kinetic theory of gases.

Although the article itself did not represent anything new and the conclusions in it are not entirely accurate, nevertheless, it reveals great abilities and hard work in the author, since the author was not brought up in an educational institution and owes his knowledge exclusively to himself...

The second scientific work was the 1882 article “Mechanics like a variable organism.”

The third work was the article “Duration of Radiation of the Sun” in 1883, in which Tsiolkovsky described the mechanism of action of the star. He considered the Sun as an ideal gas ball, tried to determine the temperature and pressure at its center, and the lifetime of the Sun. Tsiolkovsky used only the basic laws of mechanics and gases in his calculations.

Tsiolkovsky’s next work, “Free Space,” 1883, was written in the form of a diary. This is a kind of thought experiment, the story is told on behalf of an observer who is in free airless space and does not experience the forces of attraction and resistance. Tsiolkovsky describes the sensations of such an observer, his capabilities and limitations in movement and manipulation of various objects. He analyzes the behavior of gases and liquids in “free space”, the functioning of various devices, and the physiology of living organisms - plants and animals. The main result of this work can be considered the principle first formulated by Tsiolkovsky about the only possible method of movement in “free space” - jet propulsion.

In 1885, Tsiolkovsky developed a balloon of his own design, which resulted in the voluminous essay “Theory and Experience of a Balloon Having an Elongated Shape in the Horizontal Direction.” It provided scientific and technical justification for the creation of a completely new and original airship design with a thin metal shell. Tsiolkovsky provided drawings of general views of the balloon and some important components of its design. The main features of the airship developed by Tsiolkovsky:

The volume of the shell was variable, which made it possible to maintain a constant lift force at different flight altitudes and temperatures of the atmospheric air surrounding the airship.

Tsiolkovsky avoided the use of explosive hydrogen; his airship was filled with hot air. The lifting height of the airship could be adjusted using a separately developed heating system.

The thin metal shell was also corrugated, which increased its strength and stability.

In 1887, Tsiolkovsky wrote a short story “On the Moon” - his first science fiction work. The story in many ways continues the traditions of “Free Space”, but is presented in a more artistic form and has a complete, albeit very conventional, plot. Two nameless heroes - the author and his friend - unexpectedly end up on the moon. The main and only task of the work is to describe the impressions of the observer located on its surface.

Tsiolkovsky describes the view of the sky and luminaries observed from the surface of the Moon. He analyzed in detail the consequences of low gravity, the absence of an atmosphere, and other features of the Moon (speed of rotation around the Earth and the Sun, constant orientation relative to the Earth). The story also talks about the expected behavior of gases and liquids and measuring instruments.

In the period from October 6, 1890 – May 18, 1891, based on experiments on air resistance, Tsiolkovsky wrote a large work, “On the Question of Flying with Wings.” The manuscript was handed over to A.G. Stoletov, who gave it to N.E. for review. Zhukovsky, who wrote a reserved but quite favorable review.

In February 1894, Konstantin Eduardovich wrote the work “Airplane or bird-like (aviation) machine.” In it he gave a diagram of the aerodynamic scales he designed.

He also built a special installation that allows you to measure some aerodynamic parameters of aircraft.

In 1896, Konstantin Eduardovich began writing his main work, “Exploration of world spaces using reactive instruments.” In 1903, in the journal Scientific Review, K.E. Tsiolkovsky published this work, “in which for the first time the possibility of space flight using liquid rockets was scientifically substantiated and the basic calculation formulas for their flight were given. Konstantin Eduardovich was the first in the history of science to strictly formulated and studied the rectilinear motion of rockets as bodies of variable mass.

The discovery of K.E. Tsiolkovsky indicated the main ways to improve rockets: increasing the gas flow rate and increasing the relative fuel supply. The second part of the work “Exploration of world spaces using jet instruments” was published in 1911-1912. in the journal "Bulletin of Aeronautics". In 1914, an addition to the first and second parts of the work of the same name was published as a separate brochure published by the author. In 1926, the work “Exploration of World Spaces by Reactive Instruments” was republished with some additions and changes. A feature of the scientist’s creative method was the unity of scientific and theoretical research and the analysis and development of possible ways of their practical implementation. K.E. Tsiolkovsky scientifically substantiated the problems associated with rocket space flight. He examined in detail everything related to the rocket (single- and multi-stage): the laws of rocket motion, the principle of its design, issues of energy, control, testing, ensuring the reliability of systems, creating acceptable habitability conditions and even selecting a psychologically compatible crew. Tsiolkovsky did not limit himself to pointing out the means of human penetration into space - a rocket, but also gave a detailed description of the engine. His ideas about the choice of liquid two-component fuel, about regenerative cooling of the combustion chamber and engine nozzle with fuel components, ceramic insulation of structural elements, separate storage and pumping of fuel components into the combustion chamber, about control of the thrust vector by rotating the output part of the nozzle and gas rudders turned out to be prophetic. Konstantin Eduardovich also thought about the possibility of using other types of fuel, in particular, the energy of the decay of atoms. He expressed this idea in 1911. In the same year, K.E. Tsiolkovsky put forward the idea of creating electric jet engines, pointing out that “maybe, with the help of electricity, it will be possible over time to impart enormous speed to the particles ejected from the jet device.”

The scientist examined many specific issues related to the design of the spacecraft. In 1926, K.E. Tsiolkovsky proposed using a two-stage rocket to achieve the first cosmic speed, and in 1929, in his work “Space Rocket Trains”, he gave a coherent mathematical theory of a multi-stage rocket. In 1934-1935 in the manuscript “Fundamentals of construction of gas engines, engines and aircraft”, he proposed another way to achieve cosmic speeds, called the “rocket squadron”. The scientist attached particular importance to the problem of creating interplanetary stations. In solving this problem, he saw the possibility of fulfilling a long-standing dream of man conquering the circumsolar space and creating “ethereal settlements” in the future. K.E. Tsiolkovsky outlined a grandiose plan for the conquest of world spaces, which is currently being successfully implemented.

Tsiolkovsky interplanetary rocketry aerodynamics

Scientific achievements

K.E. Tsiolkovsky claimed that he developed the theory of rocket science only as an application to his philosophical research. He wrote more than 400 works, most of which are little known to the general reader due to their dubious values.

Tsiolkovsky’s first scientific research dates back to 1880–1881. Not knowing about the discoveries already made, he wrote the work “Theory of Gases,” in which he outlined the foundations of the kinetic theory of gases. His second work, “Mechanics of the Animal Organism,” received a favorable review from I.M. Sechenov, and Tsiolkovsky was admitted to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society.

Tsiolkovsky's main works after 1884 were associated with four major problems: the scientific substantiation of an all-metal balloon (airship), a streamlined airplane, a hovercraft and a rocket for interplanetary travel.

In his apartment he created the first aerodynamic laboratory in Russia. Tsiolkovsky built the first wind tunnel in Russia with an open working part in 1897, developed an experimental technique in it, and in 1900, with a subsidy from the Academy of Sciences, made blowing of the simplest models. Determined the drag coefficient of a ball, flat plate, cylinder, cone and other bodies. Tsiolkovsky described the flow of air around bodies of various geometric shapes.

Tsiolkovsky studied the mechanics of controlled flight, as a result of which he designed a controlled balloon. Konstantin Eduardovich was the first to propose the idea of an all-metal airship and build its model. The Tsiolkovsky airship project, progressive for its time, was not supported; the author was denied a subsidy for the construction of the model.

In 1892 he turned to the new and little-explored field of heavier-than-air aircraft. Tsiolkovsky came up with the idea of building an airplane with a metal frame.

Since 1896, Tsiolkovsky systematically studied the theory of motion of jet vehicles. Thoughts about using the rocket principle in space were expressed by Tsiolkovsky back in 1883, but he outlined a strict theory of jet propulsion in 1896. Tsiolkovsky derived a formula (it was called the “Tsiolkovsky formula”) that established the relationship between:

· Rocket speed at any moment;

· Specific impulse of fuel;

The mass of the rocket at the initial and final moments of time

In 1903, he published the article “Exploration of World Spaces by Jet Instruments,” where he was the first to prove that a rocket was a device capable of space flight. In this article and its subsequent sequels (1911 and 1914), he developed some ideas about the theory of rockets and the use of liquid rocket engines.

The result of the first publication was not at all what Konstantin Eduardovich expected. Neither compatriots nor foreign scientists appreciated the research that science is proud of today. It was simply an era ahead of its time. In 1911, the second part of the work was published. Tsiolkovsky calculates the work to overcome the force of gravity, determines the speed required for the device to enter the Solar System (“second cosmic speed”) and the flight time. This time the article caused a lot of noise in the scientific world. Tsiolkovsky made many friends in the world of science.

In 1926 - 1929, Tsiolkovsky solved a practical question: how much fuel should be taken into a rocket in order to obtain the liftoff speed and leave the Earth. It turned out that the final speed of the rocket depends on the speed of the gases flowing out of it and on how many times the weight of the fuel exceeds the weight of the empty rocket.

Tsiolkovsky put forward a number of ideas that found application in rocket science. They proposed: gas rudders (made of graphite) to control the flight of the rocket and change the trajectory of its center of mass; the use of fuel components to cool the outer shell of the spacecraft (during entry into the Earth’s atmosphere), the walls of the combustion chamber and the nozzle; pumping system for supplying fuel components; optimal descent trajectories of a spacecraft when returning from space, etc. In the field of rocket fuels, Tsiolkovsky studied a large number of different oxidizers and fuels; recommended fuel vapors; liquid oxygen with hydrogen, oxygen with carbons. Konstantin Eduardovich worked a lot and fruitfully on creating the theory of flight of jet aircraft, invented his own gas turbine engine design; in 1927 he published the theory and diagram of a hovercraft train. He was the first to propose a “bottom-retractable chassis” chassis. Space flight and airship construction were the main problems to which he devoted his life.

Tsiolkovsky defended the idea of diversity of life forms in the Universe and was the first theorist and promoter of human exploration of outer space.

Tsiolkovsky as an opponent of Einstein's theory of relativity

Tsiolkovsky was skeptical about Albert Einstein's theory of relativity.

He denied the theory of an expanding Universe on the basis of spectroscopic observations (red shift) according to E. Hubble, considering this shift to be a consequence of other reasons. In particular, he explained the red shift by the slowing down of the speed of light in the cosmic environment, caused by “the obstacle from ordinary matter scattered everywhere in space,” and pointing out the dependence: “the faster the apparent movement, the further away the nebula (galaxy).”

Regarding the limit on the speed of light according to Einstein, Tsiolkovsky wrote in the same article:

“His second conclusion: the speed cannot exceed the speed of light, that is, 300 thousand kilometers per second. These are the same six days allegedly used to create the world.”

Tsiolkovsky also denied time dilation in the theory of relativity:

“The slowing down of time in ships flying at sublight speed in comparison with earthly time is either a fantasy or one of the next mistakes of the unphilosophical mind. ... Time slowdown! Understand what wild nonsense is contained in these words!”

He stated:

“Having successfully developed and not meeting adequate resistance, senseless theories have won a temporary victory, which they, however, celebrate with unusually magnificent solemnity!”

Tsiolkovsky's awards and perpetuation of his memory

Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd degree. For conscientious work, he was presented with an award in May 1906, issued in August.

Order of St. Anne, 3rd class. Awarded in May 1911 for conscientious work, at the request of the council of the Kaluga Diocesan Women's School.

For special services in the field of inventions of great importance for the economic power and defense of the USSR, Tsiolkovsky was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1932. The award is timed to coincide with the celebration of the scientist’s 75th birthday.

On the eve of the 100th anniversary of Tsiolkovsky's birth in 1954, the ANSSSR established a gold medal named after. K. E. Tsiolkovsky “3a outstanding works in the field of interplanetary communications.”

Monuments to the scientist were erected in Kaluga and Moscow; a memorial house-museum was created in Kaluga, a house-museum in Borovsk and a house-museum in Kirov (formerly Vyatka); The State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics and the Pedagogical Institute (now Kaluga State Pedagogical University), a school in Kaluga, and the Moscow Aviation Technology Institute bear his name.

The crater Lunar small planet 1590 Tsiolkovskaja is named after Tsiolkovsky.

In Moscow, St. Petersburg, Lipetsk, Tyumen, Kirovea, and in many other settlements there are streets named after him.

In Kaluga, since 1966, Scientific Readings in memory of K. E. Tsiolkovsky have been held.

In 1991, the Academy of Cosmonautics was established. K. E. Tsiolkovsky. On June 16, 1999, the Academy was given the name “Russian”.

In the year of the 150th anniversary of the birth of K. E. Tsiolkovsky, the cargo ship “Progress M-61” was given the name “Konstantin Tsiolkovsky”, and a portrait of the scientist was placed on the head fairing. The launch took place on August 2, 2007.

In February 2008 K. E. Tsiolkovsky was awarded the public award “Symbol of Science” medal, “for creating the source of all projects for human exploration of new spaces in Space.”

Conclusion

Tsiolkovsky is the founder of the theory of interplanetary communications. His research was the first to show the possibility of reaching cosmic speeds, proving the feasibility of interplanetary flights. He was the first to study the issue of a rocket - an artificial satellite of the Earth and expressed the idea of creating near-Earth stations as artificial settlements using solar energy and intermediate bases for interplanetary communications; examined medical and biological problems arising during long-term space flights.

Konstantin Eduardovich was the first ideologist and theorist of human exploration of outer space, the ultimate goal of which seemed to him in the form of a complete restructuring of the biochemical nature of thinking beings generated by the Earth. In this regard, he put forward projects for a new organization of humanity, in which the ideas of social utopias of various historical eras are uniquely intertwined.

Under Soviet rule, Tsiolkovsky's living and working conditions changed radically. Tsiolkovsky was assigned a personal pension and provided with the opportunity for fruitful activity. His works contributed significantly to the development of rocket and space technology in the USSR and other countries.

List of sources used

1. Arlazorov M.S. Tsiolkovsky. The life of wonderful people.-M., “Young Guard”, 1962-320 p.

2. Demin V.I. Tsiolkovsky. The life of wonderful people.-M., “Young Guard”, 2005-336 p.

3. Alekseeva V.I. Philosophy of immortality K.E. Tsiolkovsky: the origins of the system and the possibilities of analysis // Journal “Social Sciences and Modernity” No. 3, 2001.

4. Kazyutinsky V.V. Cosmic philosophy K.E. Tsiolkovsky: pros and cons. // “Earth and Universe” No. 4, 2003, p. 43 - 54.

A short biography of Tsiolkovsky is a vivid example of his dedication to his work and perseverance in achieving his goal, despite difficult life circumstances.

Who is he - Tsiolkovsky?

The future scientist was born on September 17, 1857, not far from Ryazan, in the village of Izhevskoye. Father, Eduard Ignatievich, worked as a forester, and mother, Maria Ivanovna, who came from a family of small-scale peasants, ran a household. Three years after the birth of the future scientist, his family, due to difficulties encountered by his father at work, moved to Ryazan. Konstantin and his brothers’ initial education (reading, writing and basic arithmetic) was handled by their mother.

Tsiolkovsky's early years

In 1868, the family moved to Vyatka, where Konstantin and his younger brother Ignatius became students at the men's gymnasium. Education was difficult, the main reason for this was deafness - a consequence of scarlet fever, which the boy suffered at the age of 9. In the same year, a great loss occurred in the Tsiolkovsky family: Konstantin’s beloved older brother, Dmitry, died. And a year later, unexpectedly for everyone, my mother passed away. The family tragedy had a negative impact on Kostya’s studies, and his deafness began to progress sharply, increasingly isolating the young man from society. In 1873, Tsiolkovsky was expelled from the gymnasium. He never studied anywhere else, preferring to pursue his education on his own, because books generously provided knowledge and never reproached him for anything. At this time, the guy became interested in scientific and technical creativity, even designed a lathe at home.

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky: interesting facts

At the age of 16, Konstantin, with the light hand of his father, who believed in his son’s abilities, moved to Moscow, where he unsuccessfully tried to enter the Higher Technical School. Failure did not break the young man, and for three years he independently studied such sciences as astronomy, mechanics, chemistry, mathematics, communicating with others using a hearing aid.

The young man visited the Chertkovsky public library every day; It was there that he met Nikolai Fedorovich Fedorov, one of the founders of Russian cosmism. This outstanding man replaced all the teachers put together for the young man. Life in the capital turned out to be unaffordable for Tsiolkovsky, and he spent all his savings on books and instruments, so in 1876 he returned to Vyatka, where he began to earn money by tutoring and private lessons in physics and mathematics. Upon returning home, Tsiolkovsky’s vision deteriorated greatly due to hard work and difficult conditions, and he began to wear glasses.

Students came to Tsiolkovsky, who established himself as a highly qualified teacher, with great eagerness. When teaching lessons, the teacher used methods developed by himself, among which visual demonstration was key. For geometry lessons, Tsiolkovsky made models of polyhedra from paper, and together with his students he conducted experiments in physics. Konstantin Eduardovich has earned the reputation of a teacher who explains the material in a clear, accessible language: his classes were always interesting. In 1876, Ignatius, Constantine’s brother, died, which was a very big blow for the scientist.

Personal life of a scientist

In 1878, Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky and his family changed their place of residence to Ryazan. There he successfully passed the exams to obtain a teacher's diploma and got a job at a school in the city of Borovsk. At the local district school, despite the considerable distance from the main scientific centers, Tsiolkovsky actively conducted research in the field of aerodynamics. He created the foundations of the kinetic theory of gases, sending the available data to the Russian Physico-Chemical Society, to which he received an answer from Mendeleev that this discovery had been made a quarter of a century ago.

The young scientist was very shocked by this circumstance; his talent was taken into account in St. Petersburg. One of the main problems that occupied Tsiolkovsky’s thoughts was the theory of balloons. The scientist developed his own version of the design of this aircraft, characterized by a thin metal shell. Tsiolkovsky outlined his thoughts in his work of 1885-1886. "Theory and experience of the balloon."

In 1880, Tsiolkovsky married Varvara Evgrafovna Sokolova, the daughter of the owner of the room in which he lived for some time. Tsiolkovsky's children from this marriage: sons Ignatius, Ivan, Alexander and daughter Sophia. In January 1881, Konstantin's father died.

A short biography of Tsiolkovsky mentions such a terrible incident in his life as the fire of 1887, which destroyed everything: modules, drawings, acquired property. Only the sewing machine survived. This event was a heavy blow for Tsiolkovsky.

Life in Kaluga

In 1892 he moved to Kaluga. There he also got a job as a teacher of geometry and arithmetic, while simultaneously studying astronautics and aeronautics, and built a tunnel in which he checked aircraft. It was in Kaluga that Tsiolkovsky wrote the main works on space biology, the theory of jet propulsion and medicine, while at the same time continuing to study the theory of the metal airship. With his own money, Tsiolkovsky created about a hundred different models of aircraft and tested them. Konstantin did not have enough personal funds to conduct research, so he turned for financial assistance to the Physicochemical Society, which did not consider it necessary to financially support the scientist. Subsequent news of Tsiolkovsky’s successful experiments nevertheless prompted the Physicochemical Society to allocate him 470 rubles, which the scientist spent on the invention of an improved wind tunnel.

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky pays increasing attention to the study of space. 1895 was marked by the publication of Tsiolkovsky’s book “Dreams of Earth and Sky,” and a year later he began work on a new book: “Exploration of Outer Space Using a Jet Engine,” which focused on rocket engines, cargo transportation in space, and fuel features.

The hard twentieth century

The beginning of the new, twentieth century was difficult for Konstantin: money was no longer allocated to continue important research for science, his son Ignatius committed suicide in 1902, five years later, when the river flooded, the scientist’s house was flooded, many exhibits, structures and unique calculations. It seemed that all the elements of nature were set against Tsiolkovsky. By the way, in 2001, a strong fire occurred on the Russian ship Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, destroying everything inside (as in 1887, when the scientist’s house burned down).

last years of life

A short biography of Tsiolkovsky describes that the scientist’s life became a little easier with the advent of Soviet power. The Russian Society of Lovers of World Studies gave him a pension, which practically prevented him from starving to death. After all, the Socialist Academy did not accept the scientist into its ranks in 1919, thereby leaving him without a livelihood. In November 1919, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was arrested, taken to Lubyanka and released a few weeks later thanks to the petition of a certain high-ranking party member. In 1923, another son, Alexander, died, who decided to take his own life.

The Soviet authorities remembered Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in the same year, after the publication of G. Oberth, a German physicist, about space flight and rocket engines. During this period, the living conditions of the Soviet scientist changed dramatically. The leadership of the Soviet Union paid attention to all his achievements, provided comfortable conditions for fruitful work, and assigned him a personal lifelong pension.

● Creation of your own gas turbine engine circuit.
● Presentation of a rigorous theory of jet propulsion and proof of the need to use rockets for space travel.
● Design of a controlled balloon.
● Creation of a model of an all-metal airship.
● The idea of launching a rocket with an inclined guide, which is successfully used at the present time in multiple launch rocket systems.

Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky, an outstanding researcher, a major scientist in the field of aeronautics, aviation and astronautics, a true innovator in science, was born on September 5 (17), 1857 in the village of Izhevskoye, Ryazan province, into the family of forester Eduard Ignatievich Tsiolkovsky. He grew up as a smart, inquisitive and impressionable child. Already during these years, the character of the future scientist was formed - independent, persistent and purposeful. “I think I received a combination of my father’s strong will and my mother’s talent,” Tsiolkovsky later wrote.

At the age of 10, Tsiolkovsky suffered a great misfortune - he fell ill with scarlet fever and, as a result of complications, almost completely lost his hearing.

His son’s outstanding abilities and penchant for independent work and invention forced his father to think about his further education. Tsiolkovsky was 16 years old when his father decided to send him to Moscow to continue his studies. Three years of independent, purposeful studies in the library of the Rumyantsev Museum enriched the young man with knowledge in the fields of mathematics, physics and astronomy.

After returning from Moscow in the fall of 1879, Tsiolkovsky passed the exam as an external student at the Ryazan gymnasium for the title of teacher of district schools and three months later received an appointment to the small town of Borovsk, Kaluga province. For 12 years, Tsiolkovsky lived and worked in Borovsk, teaching arithmetic and geometry. There he married Varvara Evgrafovna Sokolova, who became his faithful assistant and adviser, the mother of his seven children.

While teaching, Tsiolkovsky began to engage in scientific work. Already in 1883, he wrote the work “Free Space”, in which he made an important conclusion about the possibility of using jet propulsion to move in world space.

Almost all his life, Tsiolkovsky was heavily involved in aeronautics.

His first scientific work on aeronautics, “Metal Balloon, Controlled,” was published in 1892.

In the same year, in connection with Tsiolkovsky’s transfer to the Kaluga district school, the Tsiolkovsky family moved to Kaluga. For many years the family had to live in private apartments before they managed to buy a small house on the outskirts of the city.

In 1903, Tsiolkovsky’s first article on rocket technology, “Exploration of world spaces using rocket instruments,” appeared in the journal “Scientific Review” No. 5. In this work, the scientist for the first time proposed a liquid-propellant rocket project for the actual implementation of space flight and substantiated the theory of its flight.

The first part of Tsiolkovsky’s article “Exploration of world spaces using jet instruments” went unnoticed by the wider scientific community. The second part, published in the journal "Bulletin of Aeronautics", was published in 1911-1912 and caused a great resonance. Famous popularizers of science and technology V.V. Ryumin, Ya.I. Perelman and N.A. Rynin began to spread Tsiolkovsky’s space ideas and over time became his true friends. Tsiolkovsky was also greatly helped by numerous Kaluga friends: V.I. Assonov, P.P. Canning, S.E. Eremeev, and later A.L. Chizhevsky and S.V. Shcherbakov. In 1914, Tsiolkovsky published a separate brochure “Addition to the Study of World Spaces by Reactive Instruments.”

Scientific activity occupied all of Tsiolkovsky’s free time, but his main work for many years was still teaching. His lessons aroused students' interest and gave them practical skills and knowledge. Only in November 1921, at the age of 64, Tsiolkovsky left his teaching job.

After the Great October Socialist Revolution, his scientific work received state support. In 1918, Tsiolkovsky was elected a member of the Socialist Academy. In 1921, Tsiolkovsky was assigned an increased personal pension.

The government's attention to the scientist's research work contributed to the recognition of Tsiolkovsky's work and increased popularity.

In 1932, Tsiolkovsky turned 75 years old. This event was marked by ceremonial meetings in Moscow and Kaluga.

The government awarded the scientist the Order of the Red Banner of Labor for “special services in the field of inventions of great importance for the economic power and defense of the USSR.” The presentation of the order took place in the Kremlin on November 27, 1932. Receiving the order, Tsiolkovsky said: “I can only thank the Government for this high award through my labors. There is no point in saying thanks with words.”

The scientist took up his work with renewed vigor; he still paid a lot of attention to scientific work, the promotion of scientific knowledge, and carried out a lot of public work. Tsiolkovsky met with workers, scientists, and collective farmers, often spoke to young people, and was a consultant for the science fiction film “Space Flight.”

In August 1935, Tsiolkovsky's health deteriorated sharply. On September 13, he dictated his will.

On September 19, 1935, Tsiolkovsky passed away. He was buried in Kaluga in the Country Garden (now a park named after him).

For years people have been trying to find answers about the structure of the Universe, looking at mysterious stars and dreaming of conquering space. Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky brought humanity closer to the conquest of airspace.

His works served as an incentive to create powerful rockets, aircraft and orbital stations. The progressive and innovative ideas of the thinker often did not coincide with public opinion, but the scientist did not give up. Tsiolkovsky's ingenious research glorified Russian science in the world community.

Childhood and youth

In the fall of 1857, a boy was born into the Tsiolkovsky family. The child’s parents lived in the village of Izhevskoye, Ryazan province. The priest named the baby Constantine at baptism. Eduard Ignatievich (father) was considered the scion of an impoverished noble family, whose roots went back to Poland. Maria Yumasheva (mother) is Tatar by origin, was educated at a gymnasium, so she could teach her children to read and write herself.

Mom taught her son to write and read. Afanasiev's "Fairy Tales" becomes Konstantin's primer. According to this book, a smart boy puts letters into syllables and words. Having mastered the technique of reading, the inquisitive child became acquainted with the numerous books that were present in the house. Tsiolkovsky’s older brothers and sisters considered the baby an inventor and a dreamer and did not like to listen to children’s “nonsense.” Therefore, Kostya inspiredly told his little brother his own thoughts.

At the age of 9, the child contracted scarlet fever. The painful illness caused hearing complications. Hearing loss deprived Konstantin of most of his childhood experiences, but he did not give up and became interested in craftsmanship. Cuts and glues crafts from cardboard and wood. From under the hands of a gifted child come sleighs, clocks, houses and tiny castles. He also invented a stroller that ran against the wind, thanks to a spring and a mill.

In 1868, the family was forced to move to Kirov, Vyatka province, as the father lost his job and went to join his brothers. Relatives helped the man with work, finding him a job as a forester. The Tsiolkovskys inherited a merchant's house - the former property of Shuravin. A year later, the teenager and his brother entered the men's “Vyatka Gymnasium”. The teachers turned out to be strict and the subjects difficult. Studying is difficult for Konstantin.

In 1869, his older brother, who studied at the Naval School, died. The mother, unable to survive the loss of her child, died a year later. Kostya, who dearly loved his mother, plunges into mourning. The tragic moments of his biography had a negative impact on the boy’s studies, who had not achieved excellent grades before. A 2nd grade student is left to repeat the second year due to poor academic performance, and his peers cruelly mock him for his deafness.

A student who was lagging behind in grade 3 was expelled. After this, Tsiolkovsky was forced to engage in self-education. Being at home, the teenager calmed down and began to read a lot again. The books provided the necessary knowledge and did not reproach the young man, unlike the teachers. In his parents' library, Konstantin discovered the works of eminent scientists and enthusiastically began studying them.

By the age of 14, a gifted boy develops his own engineering abilities. He independently creates a home lathe, with which he makes non-standard gizmos: moving strollers, a windmill, a wooden locomotive and even an astrolabe. His passion for magic tricks prompted Konstantin to create “magic” chests of drawers and drawers in which objects mysteriously “disappeared.”

Studies

The father, having examined the inventions, believed in his son’s talent. Eduard Ignatievich sent the young talent to Moscow, where he was supposed to enter the Higher Technical School. It was planned that she would live with my father’s friend, to whom they wrote a letter. Absent-mindedly, Konstantin dropped the piece of paper with the address, remembering only the name of the street. Arriving at Nemetsky (Baumansky) passage, he rented a room and continued his self-education.

Due to natural shyness, the young man did not decide to enroll, but remained in the city. The father sent the child 15 rubles a month, but this money was sorely lacking.

The young man saved on food because he spent money on books and reagents. From the diaries it is known that he managed to live on 90 kopecks a month, eating only bread and water.

Every day from 10:00 to 16:00 he sits in the Chertkovsky library, where he studies mathematics, physics, literature, and chemistry. Here Konstantin meets the founder of Russian cosmism - Fedorov. Thanks to conversations with the thinker, the young man received more information than he could have learned from professors and teachers. It took the young talent three years to fully master the gymnasium program.

In 1876, Tsiolkovsky’s father became seriously ill and called his son home. Returning to Kirov, the young man recruited a class of students. He invented his own teaching methodology, which helped children fully absorb the material. Each lesson was demonstrated clearly, which made it easier to consolidate what was learned.

At the end of the year, Ignat, Konstantin’s younger brother, died. The man took this news hard, since he had loved Ignat since childhood and trusted him with his innermost secrets. After 2 years, the family returned to Ryazan, planning to buy an apartment building. At this moment, a quarrel occurs between father and son, and the young teacher leaves the family. With the money he earned from tutoring in Vyatka, he rents a room and looks for new students.

To confirm his qualifications, a man takes exams as an external student at the First Gymnasium. Having received the certificate, he is assigned to Borovsk, to his place of public service.

Scientific achievements

The young theorist draws graphs every day and systematically composes manuscripts. At home he constantly experiments, as a result of which miniature thunder rumbles in the rooms, tiny lightning flashes, and paper people dance on their own.

The Scientific Council of the Russian Federal Chemical Society decided to include Tsiolkovsky among the scientists. The committee staff realized that the self-taught genius would make a significant contribution to science.

In Kaluga, a man wrote works on astronautics, medicine, and space biology. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky is known not only for his inventions, but also for his amazing thoughts about space. His “cosmic philosophy” expanded the boundaries of living space and opened the way to heaven for man. The brilliant work “The Will of the Universe” proved to humanity that the stars are much closer than it seems.

List of scientific discoveries

In 1886 he developed a balloon based on his own drawings.
For 3 years, the scientist has been working on ideas related to rocket science. Tries to put a metal airship into operation.
Using mathematical drawings and calculations, it confirms the theory about the admissibility of launching a rocket into space.
He developed the first models of rockets launched from an inclined plane. The professor's drawings were used to create the Katyusha artillery mount.
Built a wind tunnel.

Designed an engine with gas turbine traction.
He created a drawing of a monoplane and substantiated the idea of a two-wing aircraft.
I came up with a diagram of a train moving on a hovercraft.
Invented a landing gear that extends from the lower cavity of an aircraft.
Researched types of rocket fuels, recommending a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.
He wrote a science-fantasy book, “Beyond Earth,” in which he talked about man’s amazing journey to the Moon.

Personal life

Tsiolkovsky's wedding took place in the summer of 1880. Having married without love, I hoped that such a marriage would not interfere with work. The wife was the daughter of a widower priest. Varvara and Konstantin were married for 30 years and gave birth to 7 children. Five of the children died in infancy, and the remaining two died as adults. Both sons committed suicide.

The biography of Konstantin Eduardovich is replete with tragic events. The scientist is haunted by the death of relatives, fires and floods. In 1887, the Tsiolkovsky house burned to the ground. Manuscripts, drawings and models were lost in the fire. The year 1908 is no less sad. The Oka overflowed its banks and flooded the professor’s home, destroying unique circuits and machines.

The scientific achievements of the genius were not appreciated by the workers of the Socialist Academy. The Society of World Studies Lovers saved Tsiolkovsky from starvation by awarding him a pension. The authorities remembered the existence of a talented thinker only in 1923, when the press published a report by a German physicist on space flight. The state assigned the Russian genius a lifelong subsidy.

Death

In the spring of 1935, doctors diagnosed the professor with stomach cancer. Having learned the diagnosis, the man made a will, but refused to go to hospital. Exhausted by constant pain, he agreed to undergo surgery in the fall.

Doctors urgently removed the tumor, but were unable to stop the division of cancer cells. The next day, a telegram was delivered to the hospital from, who wished a speedy recovery.

The great scientist died in the fall of the same year.

I went deaf after scarlet fever,
I studied the university program on my own for 3 years,
Known as a phenomenal teacher and a favorite of children,
Considered an atheist
A museum was built in Kaluga, where photographs and household items of the scientist are displayed,
Dreamed of an ideal world where there are no crimes,
He proposed dismembering murderers into atoms,
Calculated the flight length of a multi-stage rocket.

Quotes

“We must abandon all the rules of morality and law that have been instilled in us if they harm higher goals. Everything is possible for us and everything is useful - this is the basic law of the new morality.”
“Time may exist, but we do not know where to look for it. If time exists in nature, then it has not yet been discovered.”
“For me, a rocket is only a way, only a method of penetrating into the depths of space, but by no means an end in itself... There will be another way of traveling into the depths of space, and I will accept that too. The whole point is to move from Earth and populate space.”
“Humanity will not remain forever on Earth, but in pursuit of light and space, it will first timidly penetrate beyond the atmosphere, and then conquer the entire circumsolar space.”
“There is no creator god, but there is a cosmos that produces suns, planets and living beings: there is no omnipotent god, but there is a universe that controls the fate of all celestial bodies and their inhabitants.”
“What is impossible today will be possible tomorrow.”

Bibliography

1886 - Balloon theory
1890 - On the issue of flying with wings
1903 - Natural foundations of morality
1913 - Separation of man from the animal kingdom
1916 - Living conditions on other worlds
1920 - The influence of different severity on life
1921 - World disasters
1923 - The meaning of the science of matter
1926 - Simple solar heater
1927 - Conditions of biological life in the universe
1928 - Perfection of the Universe
1930 - The era of airship construction
1931 - Reversibility of chemical phenomena
1932 - Is perpetual motion possible?

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Biography

Origin. Tsiolkovsky family

Parents of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

Childhood. Izhevskoe. Ryazan (1857-1868)

Vyatka. Training at the gymnasium. Death of mother (1869-1873)

Moscow. Self-education. Meeting with Nikolai Fedorov (1873-1876)

Return to Vyatka. Tutoring (1876-1878)

Return to Ryazan. Examinations for the title of teacher (1878-1880)

Borovsk. Creating a family. Work at school. First scientific works and publications (1880-1892)

Arrival in Borovsk and marriage

Work at school

First scientific works. Russian Physical and Chemical Society

Metal airship theory. Society of Natural History Lovers. Russian Technical Society

Other jobs. The first science fiction work. First publications

Family

Relations with Borovsk residents

Transfer to Kaluga

Kaluga (1892-1935)

The first years of life in Kaluga (1892-1902)

Early 20th century (1902-1918)

Arrest and Lubyanka

Correspondence between Tsiolkovsky and Zabolotsky (since 1932)

Scientific achievements

Aeronautics and aerodynamics

Basics of jet propulsion theory

Mechanics of bodies of variable composition

Rocket dynamics

Theoretical astronautics

Tsiolkovsky and Oberth

Research in other areas

Tsiolkovsky and music

Tsiolkovsky as an opponent of Einstein's theory of relativity

Philosophical views

Space structure

Evolution of the mind

Evolution of humanity

Other sentient beings

The Spread of Intelligence in the Universe

Panpsychism, the mind of the atom and immortality

Cosmic optimism

Space ages and “radiant humanity”

Eugenic theories of Tsiolkovsky

Science fiction writer

Essays

Collections and collections of works

Work on rocket navigation, interplanetary communications and others

Personal archive

Awards

Perpetuation of memory

Monuments

Numismatics and philately

Movies

Who is he - Tsiolkovsky?

Tsiolkovsky's early years

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky: interesting facts

Personal life of a scientist

Life in Kaluga

The hard twentieth century

last years of life

Childhood and youth

Studies

Scientific achievements

List of scientific discoveries

Personal life

Death

Quotes

Bibliography

What else to read

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