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The new Russian space programme: From competition to collaboration
Book reviews atmosphere. In support of this, it wanted to establish a telemetry station on Norway's Svalbard archipelago to receive data from and transmit commands to the satellites. The Soviet government argued that the station could be used for 'reading information from Soviet spy satellites', regarding it as a breach of the Svalbard Treaty which had established the archipelago as 'non-military territory'. According to the author, this created 'strong political tensions' between the Soviet and Norwegian governments in 1965. In parallel, the Soviet Union complained that the launching of sounding rockets from Andoya was 'a hindrance to the principle of "open sea" in international waters', because of the potential danger to Soviet shipping. The book explains the effect of these disputes on the development of Norwegian space policy.
Well-produced The volume itself is well-produced and illustrated with colour and monochrome photographs. The text is organised into seven chapters, covering the early, Cold War days, national space policy, commercialisation and ESA membership. For those with a need to know, there are also a hundred or so pages of "historical and statistical data from Norwegian space history', including details of sounding rocket launches and payloads, and a selective chronology of events which places Norwegian space activities in the context of international activities. As with any good history book, there are also chapter notes and an index of names. An important omission, however, is an index of content which, even in reviewing the book, has made it difficult to use. The concluding chapter provides a pr6cis of the book's coverage which, although ostensibly simplistic, summarises the situation for most small countries involved in space: 'The story of Norwegian space activities from the 1950s into the 1990s is the story of how a small industrialised country reacted to the developments in space technology that took place outside the country. These developments were regarded both as a threat and as a
SPACE POLICY November 1996
promising potential for national activity.' From initial disbelief that a 400page book could - usefully and interestingly - be written on Norwegian space activities grows a realisation that no nation's space activities can be considered in isolation to those of other nations. In addition to its other audiences, this book could be beneficial to those contemplating their own national history of space activities and even to those now contemplating the inauguration of their own national
space agency. From its early involvement in ionospheric research, through successful collaboration in Inmarsat and the less successful Norsat, to its c u r r e n t ' u s e r - o r i e n t e d ' policy of ' b r o a d i n t e r n a t i o n a l cooperation', Norway has a number of useful lessons to impart.
Mark Williamson Editor, Space Magazine The Glebe House Kirkby Thore Cumbria CAIO 1UR, UK
Russia's space history THE NEW RUSSIAN SPACE PROGRAMME: From Competition to Collaboration by Brian Harvey Wiley/Praxis, Chichester, UK and New York, 1996, 408 pp, £25, ISBN 0-471-96014-4 Enthusiasts of Brian Harvey's original work, Race into Space (1988) will be rewarded again in their reading of this updated version. The focus is still upon the Soviet/Russian space program of the last forty years. However, the subtitle provides the clue to the shift in e m p h a s i s - f r o m competition to collaboration with A m e r i c a and NASA. In his introduction, the author admits that this second edition benefits from revelations resulting from glasnost and the opening of archives on the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991. The New Russian Space Programme provides remarkable and comprehensive coverage of the other spacefaring superpower, always contrasting its progress with that of the USA. The eleven chapters begin with an appropriate quotation, often by the inspiring Russian space philosopher, Kostantin Tsiolkosky; chief engineer, Sergei Korolev; or a cosmonaut hero, like Yuri Gagarin. Each ends with an assessment section of astute analysis by the author. He writes from the perspective of a neutral and a histo-
rian. Harvey has organized his book into three parts - origins from its early beginnings, both from a theoretical and practical base to the end of the Moon race; the programme, in terms of space fleet, crafts and shuttles, as well as behind the scenes at various launch sites and facilities, to unmanned missions to the Moon, Mars and Venus; space stations, the series of endeavors to build orbiting platforms so as to live permanently in space, i n c l u d i n g the c u r r e n t plans with American and European partners. In a chronological, narrative format, Harvey meticulously describes not only the men and women involved, but includes many intrigues and power struggles within the former USSR's space enterprise. This quotation exemplifies the readable writing style: Soyuz 18 lifted off on schedule and curved toward the northeast. The s t r a p - o n s fell away a n d disappeared from sight. At 120 km the time came to drop the core stage and fire the upper section. But the explosive bolts failed to fire; the whole rocket began to tumble violently end over end! Vasily Lazarev reported the problem at once, but ground control would not believe him. For some reason, telemetry did not indicate a fault. 'Abort, abort' he screamed, 'cut us free!' Only after further pleading and swearing was Soyuz blasted from the wildly gyrating r o c k e t . . .
295
Book reviews Thus, in this interesting manner, Harvey records and recounts four decades of Russian space mission achievements and failures, their heros and myth making, their triumphs and disappointments, as well as the extensive military involvement. His account of 'firsts in space', goes beyond the obvious accomplishments, like first satellite, man and woman aloft, to lesser known feats, such as: Lunokhod 1, the first automated vehicle on the Moon; the Phobos 2 unmanned probe to Mars' moon which confirmed that radiation levels around the planet posed no threat to humans; the first human deaths in orbit of cosmonauts Patsayev, Dobrovolski, and Volkov from Soyuz 11; the first international visitors in orbit, ranging from first Asian (Vietnamese Pham Tuan) to first Briton (England's Helen Sharman). With both text and 110 photographs, the message of Russian risktaking, courage, bungling and scientific competence comes across loud and clear. We learn of the internal competition and clashes within the Soviet design bureaus under Korolev and Glushko, as well as the consequences of their feuding in handicapping the race to the Moon. Throughout the 400 plus pages, readers also receive helpful insights about facilities, cosmodromes and training centers, such as Star Town. This is a well-researched and deftlywritten narrative, filled with engaging human anecdotes about politicians, designers and mostly cosmonauts. For Western readers, this text penetrates many of the mysteries behind the Soviet space program, lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding such. For example, we learn that their failure to place cosmonauts on the Moon was "a political and organizational failure, not a technical one' - the Russians entered the Moon race too late; their
296
efforts were divided between rival design teams, competing programs and n o n - c o o p e r a t i o n ; they misjudged American intentions and resources. But the book's last part is the most enlightening. It describes the Russian evolutionary attempts to fulfill their goal of living in space, beginning in 1962 with a series of orbiting stations that culminated in the successful Mir (Peace). In 1997, that station will celebrate ten years of continuous human presence and research in orbit, including a record of 438 days aloft by Dr Valeri Poliakov. The author believes Mir is their 'most durable single achievement' in spacefaring. In his final conclusion, ttarvey says it best: The Soviet and Russian exploration of space has been characterized by a relentless pursuit of dreams and ideals and ideas, which have transcended the setbacks, disappointments and disasters that inevitably accompanied such a great undertaking. This book is impressive in many ways, from the scope of its coverage to its 106 endnotes. However, the title is misleading in its use of the word new. Only in the last chapter do we get details on Ttle New Russian Space Programme, and this is htrgely in terms of the current space era of global cooperation, especially in planning the International Space Station, along with exchanges of astronauts and cosmonauts now flying on other country's spacecraft. The inadequacy of the index is underscored by no reference to the Russian Space Agency, despite the fact that its origins are mentioned several times in Chapter 1I. The chaos of Russia in transition to a more market-oriented, democratic society and its impact on its space undertakings is sparsely discussed, then only in terms of financial and political prob-
lems that negatively affect safety, selection or rotation aloft. Thus, we hear of the pathetic delay in returning Sergei Kiralev from orbit, as this 'last Soviet citizen' is forced to stay aloft 312 days, 'the longest ever unintended stay in space'. Unfortunately, this revision does not discuss the deterioration of the Russian space ethos and space facilities. Perhaps in the next printing, the author will add a Chapter 12 or a new volume to describe how the emerging Russian space program fares under the Commonwealth of Independent States with its space bases now located in different countries. Certainly we need to know more about the Association for the Advancement of Space Science and Technology which represents some twenty or so major organizations within the Russian Federation that influence present space activities. Until Harvey writes such a sequel, readers will have to depend upon the Earth-Space Review's Space Bulletin for reports about the happenings within the contemporary Russian space field. While Western space engineers, historians and activists will relish this book, it is a 'must read' for representatives from other space agencies, corporations and universities hoping to engage in international space projects and business with the Russians. This significant volume gives Konstantin Tsiolkovsky the last word: Mankind will not remain forever on the Earth. In pursuit of light and space, he will timidly at first probe the limits of the atmosphere and later extend his control throughout the solar system. The impossible of today will become the possible of tomorrow.
Philip R. Harris 2702 Costebelle Drive La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
SPACE POLICY November 1996
Well-produced The volume itself is well-produced and illustrated with colour and monochrome photographs. The text is organised into seven chapters, covering the early, Cold War days, national space policy, commercialisation and ESA membership. For those with a need to know, there are also a hundred or so pages of "historical and statistical data from Norwegian space history', including details of sounding rocket launches and payloads, and a selective chronology of events which places Norwegian space activities in the context of international activities. As with any good history book, there are also chapter notes and an index of names. An important omission, however, is an index of content which, even in reviewing the book, has made it difficult to use. The concluding chapter provides a pr6cis of the book's coverage which, although ostensibly simplistic, summarises the situation for most small countries involved in space: 'The story of Norwegian space activities from the 1950s into the 1990s is the story of how a small industrialised country reacted to the developments in space technology that took place outside the country. These developments were regarded both as a threat and as a
SPACE POLICY November 1996
promising potential for national activity.' From initial disbelief that a 400page book could - usefully and interestingly - be written on Norwegian space activities grows a realisation that no nation's space activities can be considered in isolation to those of other nations. In addition to its other audiences, this book could be beneficial to those contemplating their own national history of space activities and even to those now contemplating the inauguration of their own national
space agency. From its early involvement in ionospheric research, through successful collaboration in Inmarsat and the less successful Norsat, to its c u r r e n t ' u s e r - o r i e n t e d ' policy of ' b r o a d i n t e r n a t i o n a l cooperation', Norway has a number of useful lessons to impart.
Mark Williamson Editor, Space Magazine The Glebe House Kirkby Thore Cumbria CAIO 1UR, UK
Russia's space history THE NEW RUSSIAN SPACE PROGRAMME: From Competition to Collaboration by Brian Harvey Wiley/Praxis, Chichester, UK and New York, 1996, 408 pp, £25, ISBN 0-471-96014-4 Enthusiasts of Brian Harvey's original work, Race into Space (1988) will be rewarded again in their reading of this updated version. The focus is still upon the Soviet/Russian space program of the last forty years. However, the subtitle provides the clue to the shift in e m p h a s i s - f r o m competition to collaboration with A m e r i c a and NASA. In his introduction, the author admits that this second edition benefits from revelations resulting from glasnost and the opening of archives on the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991. The New Russian Space Programme provides remarkable and comprehensive coverage of the other spacefaring superpower, always contrasting its progress with that of the USA. The eleven chapters begin with an appropriate quotation, often by the inspiring Russian space philosopher, Kostantin Tsiolkosky; chief engineer, Sergei Korolev; or a cosmonaut hero, like Yuri Gagarin. Each ends with an assessment section of astute analysis by the author. He writes from the perspective of a neutral and a histo-
rian. Harvey has organized his book into three parts - origins from its early beginnings, both from a theoretical and practical base to the end of the Moon race; the programme, in terms of space fleet, crafts and shuttles, as well as behind the scenes at various launch sites and facilities, to unmanned missions to the Moon, Mars and Venus; space stations, the series of endeavors to build orbiting platforms so as to live permanently in space, i n c l u d i n g the c u r r e n t plans with American and European partners. In a chronological, narrative format, Harvey meticulously describes not only the men and women involved, but includes many intrigues and power struggles within the former USSR's space enterprise. This quotation exemplifies the readable writing style: Soyuz 18 lifted off on schedule and curved toward the northeast. The s t r a p - o n s fell away a n d disappeared from sight. At 120 km the time came to drop the core stage and fire the upper section. But the explosive bolts failed to fire; the whole rocket began to tumble violently end over end! Vasily Lazarev reported the problem at once, but ground control would not believe him. For some reason, telemetry did not indicate a fault. 'Abort, abort' he screamed, 'cut us free!' Only after further pleading and swearing was Soyuz blasted from the wildly gyrating r o c k e t . . .
295
Book reviews Thus, in this interesting manner, Harvey records and recounts four decades of Russian space mission achievements and failures, their heros and myth making, their triumphs and disappointments, as well as the extensive military involvement. His account of 'firsts in space', goes beyond the obvious accomplishments, like first satellite, man and woman aloft, to lesser known feats, such as: Lunokhod 1, the first automated vehicle on the Moon; the Phobos 2 unmanned probe to Mars' moon which confirmed that radiation levels around the planet posed no threat to humans; the first human deaths in orbit of cosmonauts Patsayev, Dobrovolski, and Volkov from Soyuz 11; the first international visitors in orbit, ranging from first Asian (Vietnamese Pham Tuan) to first Briton (England's Helen Sharman). With both text and 110 photographs, the message of Russian risktaking, courage, bungling and scientific competence comes across loud and clear. We learn of the internal competition and clashes within the Soviet design bureaus under Korolev and Glushko, as well as the consequences of their feuding in handicapping the race to the Moon. Throughout the 400 plus pages, readers also receive helpful insights about facilities, cosmodromes and training centers, such as Star Town. This is a well-researched and deftlywritten narrative, filled with engaging human anecdotes about politicians, designers and mostly cosmonauts. For Western readers, this text penetrates many of the mysteries behind the Soviet space program, lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding such. For example, we learn that their failure to place cosmonauts on the Moon was "a political and organizational failure, not a technical one' - the Russians entered the Moon race too late; their
296
efforts were divided between rival design teams, competing programs and n o n - c o o p e r a t i o n ; they misjudged American intentions and resources. But the book's last part is the most enlightening. It describes the Russian evolutionary attempts to fulfill their goal of living in space, beginning in 1962 with a series of orbiting stations that culminated in the successful Mir (Peace). In 1997, that station will celebrate ten years of continuous human presence and research in orbit, including a record of 438 days aloft by Dr Valeri Poliakov. The author believes Mir is their 'most durable single achievement' in spacefaring. In his final conclusion, ttarvey says it best: The Soviet and Russian exploration of space has been characterized by a relentless pursuit of dreams and ideals and ideas, which have transcended the setbacks, disappointments and disasters that inevitably accompanied such a great undertaking. This book is impressive in many ways, from the scope of its coverage to its 106 endnotes. However, the title is misleading in its use of the word new. Only in the last chapter do we get details on Ttle New Russian Space Programme, and this is htrgely in terms of the current space era of global cooperation, especially in planning the International Space Station, along with exchanges of astronauts and cosmonauts now flying on other country's spacecraft. The inadequacy of the index is underscored by no reference to the Russian Space Agency, despite the fact that its origins are mentioned several times in Chapter 1I. The chaos of Russia in transition to a more market-oriented, democratic society and its impact on its space undertakings is sparsely discussed, then only in terms of financial and political prob-
lems that negatively affect safety, selection or rotation aloft. Thus, we hear of the pathetic delay in returning Sergei Kiralev from orbit, as this 'last Soviet citizen' is forced to stay aloft 312 days, 'the longest ever unintended stay in space'. Unfortunately, this revision does not discuss the deterioration of the Russian space ethos and space facilities. Perhaps in the next printing, the author will add a Chapter 12 or a new volume to describe how the emerging Russian space program fares under the Commonwealth of Independent States with its space bases now located in different countries. Certainly we need to know more about the Association for the Advancement of Space Science and Technology which represents some twenty or so major organizations within the Russian Federation that influence present space activities. Until Harvey writes such a sequel, readers will have to depend upon the Earth-Space Review's Space Bulletin for reports about the happenings within the contemporary Russian space field. While Western space engineers, historians and activists will relish this book, it is a 'must read' for representatives from other space agencies, corporations and universities hoping to engage in international space projects and business with the Russians. This significant volume gives Konstantin Tsiolkovsky the last word: Mankind will not remain forever on the Earth. In pursuit of light and space, he will timidly at first probe the limits of the atmosphere and later extend his control throughout the solar system. The impossible of today will become the possible of tomorrow.
Philip R. Harris 2702 Costebelle Drive La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
SPACE POLICY November 1996