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designer of the first Soviet intercontinental missile, used to launch the
first Sputnik satellite 1957 and the Vostok spacecraft, also designed by
Korolev, in which Yuri Gagarin made the world's first space flight 1961. Korolev and his research team built the first Soviet liquid-fuel rocket, launched 1933. His innovations in rocket and space technology include ballistic missiles, rockets for geophysical research, launch vehicles, and crewed spacecraft. Korolev was also responsible for the Voskhod spaceship, from which the first space walks were made. Korolev was born in Zhitomir, Ukraine, and trained as an aircraft designer. He was a member of the Institute for Jet Research from its foundation 1933, and worked as an engine designer 1924-46. Later he was appointed head of the large team of scientists who developed high-powered rocket systems. Korolev published his first paper on jet propulsion in 1934. By 1939 he had designed and launched the Soviet 212 guided wing rocket. This was followed by the RIP-318-1 rocket glider, which made its first piloted flight in 1940. The Vostok flights orbiting Earth were followed by the launching of Sun satellites and the flights of uncrewed interplanetary probes into the Solar System. |