Korolev

This text details and analyses the history of the Soviet space programme and tells the story of its charismatic founder, Sergei Korolev. Although virtually unknown both in his own country and in the West, Korolev is considered by experts to be as, if not more, important than Wernher von Braun.

Harford traces the space programme from the 1930s to the 1970s, focusing on the man who started the "space race" and dominated the programme until his death in 1966. It shows how a huge military-industry-university complex comprised of gifted, dedicated engineers and scientists met the gigantic challenge of pioneering the space age under a repressive, secretive regime with limited technology.

This is a personal story in which Korolev emerged from imprisonment as a spy in a Siberian gulag to full freedom to lead the space programme he dominated until his sudden death, which is still shrouded in mystery.

The evolution of the Soviet space programme, which created the Space Age, is one of the most important developments of the 20th century. Korolev is based on extensive interviews with and memoirs of participating engineers and scientists, as well as family and friends of Korolev. The author was involved with the U.S. space programme for more than 40 years, and his association with those who participated in the Soviet space programme goes back to 1959.