2021-08-16
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If you really want to, you can fly to the stars
If you are far from physics, and mathematical formulas have never brought you much joy, then it will be difficult for you to understand the theoretical foundations of aerodynamics. And it's not interesting. But even the most ignorant loser in these matters takes his breath away at the thought of space travel and the secrets of the Universe. But their practical achievement is simply impossible without theoretical developments.
The author of numerous works on aeronautics and aerodynamics is Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. An ascetic, a brilliant theorist, today he is considered the ancestor of the esoteric approach to the study of the cosmos. It is unlikely that the success of the first earthlings, those who entered near-Earth orbit would have been possible without the developments of Konstantin Eduardovich.
From the very first conscious years, Kostya remembered himself not like everyone else. Having had scarlet fever in childhood, the boy almost completely lost his hearing. This injury caused his subsequent isolation, but also gave a reason to thoroughly engage in self-education. He reread a lot of literature, which was based on books on physics, mathematics, astronomy.
As a result, Tsiolkovsky acquired a fundamental theoretical training, which gave him the strength to apply his knowledge in practice. His dream is the development of airspace, for which Tsiolkovsky develops projects for an airplane and an all-metal airship.
At the heart of his aspirations were far from vanity and not at all material benefits. The cosmic philosophy created by Tsiolkovsky aimed at finding the meaning of life for all mankind on the way to the 'perfect and beautiful'.
To do this, he dreamed of building his own metal airship, working on hot air, which was safe compared to the one used in airship construction with hydrogen.
The application materials for his invention were prepared by the scientist in 1929. However, ' the wisest leader and friend of all working people, comrade Stalin' (as Tsiolkovsky himself addressed him in a letter) refused to support, considering the project unpromising.
Only time has shown how progressive Konstantin Tsiolkovsky's views were and how much he was ahead of his contemporaries. Only subsequent generations were able to appreciate his works and take full advantage of them.
It was Tsiolkovsky who opened the way to humanity in space, back in 1897 (!) deducing his famous formula ‒ the basic equation of rocket motion. Today, his merits are indisputably recognized by all countries and continents: NASA published his three-volume book, and the French Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics awarded the honorary title of the 'Founding Father of Cosmonautics'.
Today's descendants honor the memory of Tsiolkovsky ‒ not only an outstanding thinker, but also a great original. What are, for example, only his eccentricities worth: when he was in a good mood, Tsiolkovsky 'pleased' the residents of provincial Borovsk with night fireworks or invited friends to taste 'invisible jam', simultaneously starting an electric car and bringing moderate discharges to the stunned guests...
The scientist was lucky, and at one time he did not experience the persecution of the party nomenclature or, even worse, the surveillance of the NKVD. His ideas proved useful to the young Soviet state, in which Osoaviakhim ruled, and where the ideas of space exploration were welcomed in every possible way and stood above politics.
Philately and numismatics contributed to the promotion of Tsiolkovsky's ideas. For example, in 1951, a postage stamp was issued, on which, however, he was called an 'outstanding Russian scientist and inventor', and not a Soviet one.
Of great interest to numismatists is the silver coin 'Striving for the Stars' with a nominal value of 3 rubles, issued by the Bank of Russia in 2021 and minted at the St. Petersburg Mint. It was published in a modest edition (only 3 thousand copies), and is dedicated to the memory of the great scientist.
The coin became a continuation of the 'Cosmos' series. The reverse depicts a portrait of Tsiolkovsky against the background of mathematical formulas and the stellar universe. The projects implemented by Konstantin Eduardovich have become an integral part of our life today: hovercraft trains and orbital stations no longer surprise anyone. In the 19th century, it was just a fantasy that few people believed in.
Having predicted that 'humanity will not remain forever on Earth, but will conquer the entire near-solar space for itself,' Tsiolkovsky was ahead of time. Even today. But you can be firmly convinced that he is right. It remains only to wait.
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