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About the Book

Two pioneers of space exploration, Robert Esnault-Pelterie and Ary Sternfeld, introduced the words astronautics and cosmonautics, respectively, into the scientific language. The origin of the term astronautics is well documented. In contrast, the history of the word cosmonautics remains poorly known. Ary Sternfeld is also largely forgotten.
The book tells the stories of astronautics and cosmonautics and describes life journeys of space pioneers Robert Esnault-Pelterie and Ary Sternfeld.

About the Author

Dr. Mike Gruntman is professor of astronautics at the University of Southern California (USC). Accomplished physicist, Mike is actively involved in research and development programs in space science and space technology. He has authored and co-authored more than 300 scholarly publications, including 6 books.

From Astronautics to Cosmonautics – Contents

Preface

Chapter 1. Astronautics was the first

Astronaut in the 19th century
Robert Esnault-Pelterie and André Louis Hirsch
Committee on Astronautics
L'Astronautique, 1930
REP-Hirsch International Astronautics Prize

Figures: Fig. 1.1. Pioneer aviator Robert Esnault-Pelterie; Fig. 1.2. Aviator Robert Esnault-Pelterie; Fig. 1.3. Committee on Astronautics, 1928; Fig. 1.4. Cover of L'Astronautique; Fig. 1.5. Robert Esnault-Pelterie, ca. 1950

Chapter 2. Dreams about Space and Communism

Ary Sternfeld in France
Articles in L'Humanité
Trip to Moscow in 1932

Figures: Fig. 2.1. Ary J. Sternfeld, 1932; Fig. 2.2. Ary Sternfeld with wife Gustava in 1934

Chapter 3. REP-Hirsch Encouragement Award

Initiation à la Cosmonautique
Lectures at the French Academy of Sciences and the French Astronomical Society
Sternfeld orbital maneuver
Cosmic velocities
Alexandre Ananoff
Award of Encouragement

Figures: Fig. 3.1. Cover of Initiation à la Cosmonautique

Chapter 4. Cosmonautics

On staff of RNII in the USSR
From A.J. Sternfeld to A.A. Shternfel'd
Vvedenie v Kosmonavtiku (Introduction to Cosmonautics)
Cosmonauts and Cosmonautics Day

Figures: Fig. 4.1. Cover of Vvedenie v Kosmonavtiku (Introduction to Cosmonautics); Fig. 4.2. Cover page of Vvedenie v Kosmonavtiku (Introduction to Cosmonautics); Fig. 4.3. Decree establishing the Cosmonautics Day

Chapter 5. Socialism Bites Back

Political purges and loss of job in RNII
Georgii Langemak on Stalin's list
Writing popular books
Anti-Semitic campaign
Prominent rocketeer denounces Sternfeld - mortal danger

Figures: Fig. 5.1. Cover of "Rockets. Their Design and Applications" (Langemak and Glushko, 1935); Fig. 5.2. Sternfeld, 1941; Fig. 5.3. Gerogii E. Langemak, Deputy Director, RNII; Fig. 5.4. Politburo members approve executions; Fig. 5.5. Sternfeld, 1959

Chapter 6. In the Spotlight

Launch of Sputnik
Sternfeld's popular books skyrocket
Galabert Prize of 1958
Indignant Ananoff
Support of Valentin Glushko
Hostility and indifference of Soviet establishment
Great Soviet Encyclopedia and burial

Figures: Fig. 6.1. Sternfeld's books Artificial Satellites of the Earth and From Artificial Satellites to Interplanetary Travel; Fig. 6.2. Sternfeld in late 1960s; Fig. 6.3. Ary Sternfeld and Valentin Glushko, 1965; Fig. 6.4. Tombstone of Sternfeld with his orbital maneuver;

Chapter 7. In His Adopted Homeland

Moscow Polytechnic Museum
Inconvenient history
Remembered and forgotten space pioneer
On New Horizons to Pluto and beyond

Figures: Fig. 7.1. Exhibition in Moscow Polytechnic Museum; Fig. 7.2. Commemorative plaque in Cosmonautics Museum in Pytalovo; Fig. 7.3. High relief of Sternfeld in Kiriat Ekron, Isrtael; Fig. 7.4. Brass plaque on the New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond