[FPSPACE] NITs RKP anniversary

[Nicolas PILLET]

This is Russia ! 
Two weeks ago I was in Korolyov, and I has been treated like an "enemy of the country" because during walking in the street I took a picture of NPO IT's building ! :-)
I really don't understand how these guys' brains are working ! Do they think that Thales Alenia Space or another western company is interested by the picture of a building that everyone in the street can see ???

I have a little question Anatoli : your picture of Mir core module prototype is really good ! Do you know where is this prototype now ?

Thank you very much for that great story !

Nicolas
www.kosmonavtika.com

Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:44:34 +0100
From: agzak at optonline.net
To: fpspace at friends-partners.org
Subject: Re: [FPSPACE] NITs RKP anniversary

RE: [FPSPACE] NITs RKP anniversary






Peter:



No, I didn't see it. Even though, I have an idea which facility you are talking about, I didn't know at the time that it was in Zagorsk. There is a little story related to that. Obviously, when I came to Zagorsk, I wanted to see badly anything related to N1 and the lunar program, however my journalistic assignment dealt with early rocketry. It wouldn't be a problem with most engineers and managers who wouldn't mind to drive me under escort to most unused and historic locations, but, as you might imagine, there was a security official involved. Yes, it was one of those people, who think they are saving their country by preventing a historian or a reporter from seeing a 40-year-old piece of rusted hardware, about which enemy spy agencies long forgot! (It is because of such people, priceless drawings and documents from the Soviet space history went into flames or just withered away, before they could be seen by historians.)



Anyway, that security guy started giving me trouble the minute I showed up at the gate, by telling me that I couldn't enter because I had a Russian passport "for living abroad." (Yes, Russia does have this distinction, which is widely used by bureaucrats to discriminate people and extort bribes). An engineer who was also there insisted that we would go to their top management to resolve the issue. He agreed and rushed into the chief engineer's office and started describing him my passport, like it was some major security breach and some enemy would learn some incredible secrets. The chief engineer was listening silently giving him a look which read "Would you stop that KGB crap" but said only: "So what?" He then instructed our "patriot" to escort me, according to pre-approved paperwork. Since it vaguely said "early rocketry" he was determined I only visited the facility you now see on photographs. Later, he softened a little, but I didn't dare to ask too much. I did get to see the nascent museum they were trying to build (there are few photos on the site) and a couple of impressive space-simulation chambers. I also met Director General of the center and a number of veterans of the company who were all very nice and signed for me a copy of their corporate history...



...As always in Russia (or is it life?), most people are greatest and friendliest in the world, but there will be one who would be determined to make your life miserable... And he/she would be doing that zealously! :)              

     



Anatoly Zak

http://www.russianspaceweb.com





On 12/18/09 4:08 PM, "Peter Pesavento" <pjp961 at svol.net> wrote:



> Anatoly,

> 

> How much of NiiKhimmash did you get to see?

> 

> There is supposed to be a facility for testing full-scale Soviet lunar

> landers (for L3), similar to what NASA had in Mississippi.  Lunar lander

> suspended from a trapeze and guided into simulated landings.

> 

> In the Buran book (coffee table sized one) published in Russia back about 10

> years ago they had an image of NiiKhimmash, and such an anticipated facility

> can be seen among several test stands and trees.

> 

> Did you get to see such a facility while you were there?  If so, did you

> take pictures of it?

> 

> Let me know.

> 

> Peter 		 	   		  
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