First liquid

The rocket is the oldest thermal machine used by humans. However, its first millennium of development had no noticeable impact on history.

Only after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, in his quest to harness the riches of space, developed the theory of reactive motion and, based on it, invented the liquid-fueled rocket—free from the fundamental limitations of gunpowder rockets—did the rapid development of modern rocketry become possible.

The honor of creating the first Soviet liquid-fueled rocket belongs to the Komsomol youth team of the Group for the Study of Reactive Motion (GIRD), established in Moscow in September 1931 within the Osoaviakhim system. Starting with the voluntary development of the RP-1 rocket plane equipped with F. A. Tsander’s OR-2 liquid rocket engine, the GIRD members quickly proved the relevance and promise of their plans. By April 1932, they had already received state support, enabling them to organize a design bureau with four project brigades and production workshops staffed with engineers and workers. This significantly expanded the scope of research, and by the end of the year, GIRD was developing eight complex rocket engine and vehicle projects. However, the challenges encountered during their implementation turned out to be far greater than anticipated. It became clear that the only way to accelerate progress was to take a step back and create a liquid-fueled rocket with the simplest possible design to gain initial practical experience. GIRD's chief, S. P. Korolev, assigned the development of this project, designated "Object 09," to the head of the second brigade, M. K. Tikhonravov.

The primary difficulties in creating liquid-fueled rockets arose from the fact that their engines had to operate for tens of times longer and at temperatures two to three times higher than gunpowder rockets. Moreover, both fuel components—oxidizer and fuel—had to be supplied to the combustion chamber gradually and in strictly defined proportions. In the design of Rocket 09, some of these difficulties were mitigated by using thickened gasoline as fuel, developed by the Baku GIRD at Korolev’s request. It was placed directly in the combustion chamber in an annular layer, close to its walls, thereby protecting them from overheating. This also simplified the fuel supply system, as only liquid oxygen needed to be fed from the tank. In addition to its high efficiency and availability, this oxidizer, which rapidly evaporated at normal temperatures, eliminated the need for a pump and pressure accumulator: it could enter the engine under its own vapor pressure.

The design and manufacturing of the rocket's components were carried out at a rapid pace, and by March 1933, ground tests of its propulsion system had begun. However, the engine did not function properly right away. It took five months before it could reliably generate the thrust necessary for flight.

Simultaneously, work was underway on refining a gunpowder parachute ejector, and in the MAI wind tunnel, aerodynamic tests were conducted on rocket body models both without a stabilizer and with stabilizers of various shapes. These tests helped fine-tune the aerodynamic design, making it highly efficient.

On August 17, 1933, the GIRD team transported the fully assembled rocket to the engineering test site near the Moscow suburb of Nakhabino and mounted it on the launch stand. The rocket’s lead designers, N. I. Efremov and Z. I. Kruglova, personally fueled it with thickened gasoline and liquid oxygen before retreating to a bunker. From there, following S. P. Korolev’s command, they initiated the engine launch. Flames burst from the nozzle, the rocket slowly emerged from the stand, and, gaining speed, shot into the sky. The entire flight lasted only 18 seconds, but those few moments were a well-earned reward for the team of enthusiasts, proving their ability to solve complex scientific and technical challenges in pursuit of Tsiolkovsky’s vision.

"The first Soviet liquid-fueled rocket has been launched! The day of August 17 is undoubtedly a milestone in GIRD’s history, and from this moment on, Soviet rockets must fly over the Union of Republics," wrote Korolev in a special issue of GIRD’s wall newspaper at the time. This flight allowed the future founder of practical astronautics to present leadership with proposals for funding the construction of an experimental series of similar rockets and for expediting the opening of the Jet Propulsion Research Institute, which had been under governmental discussion for nearly two years.

During the development of the serial version of the rocket, designated "Object 13," several improvements were made to the design: engine thrust was increased, the oxygen fueling system was modified, and teardrop-shaped fairings were installed over the fueling inlets that protruded from the upper part of the rocket body. A total of six Object 13 rockets were built, five of which successfully flew, with three reaching an altitude of 1,500 meters. Undoubtedly, further work with this rocket would have achieved its projected flight altitude, but its creators were already focused on developing new, more advanced projects, having successfully resolved the fundamental challenges posed by this simple rocket.

As a result of the creation of "Objects 09 and 13," our country gained its first practical experience in the entire cycle of work with liquid-fueled rockets. This included complex operations with liquid oxygen in field conditions, achieving stable vertical flight with relatively low acceleration (compared to gunpowder rockets), and testing ballistic, structural, and thermal calculation methods that laid the foundation for rocket design theory. Most importantly, the historic flight on August 17 marked the birth of a new field of engineering in the USSR. For this reason, a replica of the first Soviet rocket, recreated from preserved GIRD blueprints, rightfully holds an honored place in many museums across the country.