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Mishin, Vasili Pavlovich
Mishin
Mishin
Credit: © Mark Wade
Soviet Chief Designer, superseding Korolev, 1966-1974. Led the bureau in the flight test stages of the L1 and N1-L3 manned lunar programs, the Soyuz, and the Salyut space station. Replaced by Glushko after failures in all of these programs.

Born: 1917-01-18. Died: 2001-10-10.

Mishin was Chief Designer of the Korolev design bureau in 1966-1974. He led the bureau in the flight test stages of the L1 and N1-L3 manned lunar programs, the Soyuz manned orbital program, and the Salyut space station program. All of these suffered substantial failures and resulted in the loss of the moon race and the deaths of four cosmonauts. Mishin was fired in 1974 and spent the rest of his years at the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI). But was he given a bum rap?

Mishin was part of the engineering team sent to Germany in August 1945 to secure V-2 rocket technology. There his most famous exploit was the recovery in Prague of a special train used to support V-2 flight test. This train, with its sophisticated test equipment, comfortable accommodations, and huge supply of German ‘fizzie' soft drink packets, would play a prominent and fondly remembered part in the early flight tests of ballistic missiles from Kapustin Yar. After the formation of OKB-1 in 1946 Mishin became Korolev's most trusted deputy and fully supported Korolev in his technical battles – particularly the use of the liquid oxygen/kerosene propellant combination instead of the toxic storable propellants favored by other chief designers.

Mishin was assigned responsibility for development of the R-9 ICBM, which involved a titanic effort to prove that a usable silo-based weapon system could still use a cryogenic oxidizer. Methods of super-chilling liquid oxygen, storing it for long periods, and fast propellant allowed the R-9 to be readied for launch in 15 minutes – nearly as fast as its storable propellant competitors. But the development required to achieve this was long and the silo equipment considerably more expensive than the competing R-16. Relatively few R-9's were built.

In August 1964 Korolev finally obtained approval for a Soviet manned lunar landing program. Despite starting three years after the America, Korolev promised the leadership to beat the Americans to the moon. The overthrow of Khrushchev two months later allowed Korolev to gather into his hands all manned space projects, including Chelomei's L1 manned circumlunar project.

Korolev was diagnosed with cancer some time in 1965 but kept it a secret from his colleagues. In January 1966 he checked into a Moscow hospital and died on the operating table. His untimely death at 59 was a huge blow to the Soviet space program. He had committed his bureau to flying a Soviet man around the moon by 1966 and landing on the moon by 1968. Mishin as acting chief of OKB-1 was now responsible for meeting these goals. The position of head of OKB-1 was offered to at least one other Chief Designer (Kozlov) but none were interested in taking on the job. Mishin was finally named Chief Designer on 11 May 1966. But although he had the backing of the leadership, he did not have the motivational talent or aura of authority of Korolev. These were essential to obtain priority for one's projects within the Byzantine Soviet aerospace sector. Mishin was a bulldog, but bluster was not enough to ensure delivery of quality components.

The secret that Korolev took to his grave was that the weight specification for the L3 lunar spacecraft was impossible to meet. He had known this from the day the project was approved but was confident of his ability to improvise a solution. Mishin found that the L3 would have a weight of 95 metric tons versus the original 75 metric ton design payload of the N1. Mishin used techniques developed for the R-9 to bridge the gap. The propellant mass was increased by super cooling the propellants prior to loading. Six engines were added to the first stage. The parking orbit was lowered. Theoretically all of this would allow the 95 metric ton payload to be achieved on a good day. But it was marginal.

Mishin was faced with running several manned projects in parallel. The Soyuz project involved an earth-orbit version of the spacecraft to develop an automated docking system for earth orbit projects. The N1-L3 project would put a man on the moon using a drastic modification of the Soyuz as an orbiter, a new lunar lander, the new N1 super booster, and a completely different docking system. The L1 project would use Chelomei's Proton booster and the Block D stage of the N1 to put yet another Soyuz modification on a loop around the moon. At the same time the bureau was still supposed to be developing the higher priority RT-2 solid propellant ICBM, immense 75 metric ton space station modules for the MKBS space station, and manned and unmanned Mars probes for launch by the N1 in the 1970's. It was as if one American company single-handedly tried to pull off the entire Gemini and Apollo projects in half the time. In fact it took six American aerospace corporate giants to achieve what Mishin was attempting – and they spent ten times the amount allocated to Mishin.

As if he did not have enough, Mishin insisted on following Korolev's policy of establishing a manned space monopoly. Efforts by Chelomei to take back the L1 circumlunar project were rebuffed. Mishin began a prolonged campaign to undermine Kozlov's Soyuz VI and Chelomei's Almaz manned military spacecraft projects and bring that work back to OKB-1. He also fought off attempts to cancel the entire N1 project and let Chelomei build his UR-700/LK-700 in its place.

It was not until the end of 1966 that the first Soyuz was finally ready for a test flight – and a series of fiascos began. Mishin was under intense pressure to achieve a manned circumlunar flight before the 50th Anniversary of the Soviet Revolution in October1967. Capsules self-destructed when they deviated from course, were lost in pad fires, depressurized in orbit, burned-through during re-entry, and were barely controllable in orbit. Mishin felt that a human crew could have sorted out the problems and Soyuz 1 was launched with cosmonaut Komarov aboard. The uncontrollable spacecraft survived re-entry but Komarov was killed when his parachute failed to deploy. As a result, conservative criteria were placed on having a series of completely successful test flights before risking a man again. These made it virtually impossible for Mishin to beat the Americans to the moon.

Nevertheless he kept plugging away, but he began to drink heavily, check himself into the hospital often, and miss crucial meetings. One can hardly blame him, but the leadership was not anxious to replace him. It was obvious that, failing another major US disaster, there was no way to beat them to the moon. No one was anxious to take his place and take the fall for the failure of the moon program.

Mishin almost managed to beat the Americans in flying a man around the moon, but intelligence of his intentions reached the CIA and a decision was taken to put the second manned Apollo on a risky mission into lunar orbit. Not wishing to be second, the leadership called off any manned L1 missions. Mishin pushed on and attempted to fly the N1 booster in January 1969. Unlike Von Braun's Saturn V team, he had not been given the budget for facilities to ground-test the enormous first stage before its first flight. It failed in flight and then blew up on the pad on the second launch attempt in July 1969. Apollo 11 landed on the moon weeks later and the race was over.

Behind Mishin's back some of his and Chelomei's engineers conceived a plot to build a cheaper-better-faster space station using an Almaz spaceframe fitted out with Soyuz functional equipment. Over the objections of both Mishin and Chelomei Brezhnev ordered a crash program to build the Salyut civilian space station and beat the American Skylab into orbit. The first station was orbited in April 1971 but the crew died when their Soyuz depressurized during the return to earth.

Still Mishin stayed in place and the N1 project continued. He conceived of creating a lunar base using two N1 launches and a new more capable lunar lander. Funds never developed for the L3M spacecraft but work on the N1 continued – it was in the five-year plan, after all, and the plan must be fulfilled. Furthermore some in the military had an interest in using it (eventually) to orbit space stations armed with neutral particle beam weapons.

The N1 exploded in its next two launch attempts. The next Salyut failed in orbit and the American Skylab became the first space station to have a crew visit it and return safely to earth. The Americans were doing something different and right in their method of developing space hardware. The Soviet methods that worked for Korolev obviously did not apply to large-scale projects. The American space shuttle looked like the wave of the future and the N1 was a dinosaur.

On May 2, 1974, before the next test flight of the N1, Mishin was removed. Mishin's old nemesis Glushko was appointed as head of the new NPO Energia and tasked with designing a completely new heavy launch vehicle using US technology and methods. Two fully assembled (serial numbers 8L and 9L), and four partially assembled N1 rockets were available at time of cancellation. These would have been the first to use the new modernized series NK-33/NK-39 engines. 8L was planned for launch in the fourth quarter of 1974. Confidence was high that, based on the massive telemetry received on the 7L flight, that all problems would have been rectified.

A total of 3.6 billion rubles were spent on the N1-L3 program, of which 2.4 billion rubles went into N1 development. Mishin felt that he was within months of finally providing the Soviet Union with a heavy-lift booster. Instead the work was discarded, and Glushko began design of a completely new launch vehicle. Thirteen years and another 14.5 billion rubles later, the Energia flew, only to be cancelled in turn with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The N1's themselves were broken up in 1975 and the payload shrouds and tank bulkheads used as carports, storage sheds, and sun shelters around the Baikonur cosmodrome. Mishin at age 57 found himself teaching at the Moscow Aviation Institute, sworn to secrecy about his moon project that officially had never happened. It was only in 1990, when Glasnost allowed the secret to be revealed, that Mishin finally was able to tell his story.



Country: Russia. Projects: Lunar L1, Lunar L3. Agency: Korolev bureau. Bibliography: 169, 21, 5789.
Photo Gallery

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1917 January 18 - .
1964 July 19 - .
1965 September 15 - . LV Family: , Proton, .
1965 September 16 - .
1966 January 14 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
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1966 February 14 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
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1966 July 22 - . LV Family: N1.
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1966 November 18 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
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1966 December 2 - . LV Family: N1, Proton, .
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1966 December 24 - . LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K.
1966 December 31 - .
1967 March - .
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1967 March 22 - .
1967 April 1 - .
1967 April 8 - . 09:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/23. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/D. FAILURE: Block D ullage rocket failure; no restart.. Failed Stage: U.
1967 April 12 - .
1967 April 14 - .
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1967 April 29 - .
1967 May 5 - . LV Family: N1, Proton, N11.
1967 May 5 - .
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1967 September 20 - .
1967 September 27 - . 22:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/23. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/D. FAILURE: First stage -1 RD-253 failed, resulting at T+67 sec in deviation from flight path.. Failed Stage: 1.
1967 October 3 - .
1967 October 4 - . LV Family: N1.
1967 October 6 - .
1967 October 7 - . LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K.
1967 October 10 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1967 October 13 - .
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1967 October 21 - .
1967 October 30 - . 08:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511.
1967 October 31 - .
1967 November 1 - .
1967 November 4 - .
1967 November 13 - .
1967 November 18 - .
1967 November 22 - . 19:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/24. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/D. FAILURE: Second stage - 1 x RD-0210 failure, shutoff of stage 4 seconds after ignition. Launcher crashed downrange.. Failed Stage: 2.
1967 November 25 - .
1967 November 30 - .
1967 December 2 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1967 December 3 - .
1967 December 6 - .
1967 December 8 - .
1967 December 27 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1968 January 17 - .
1968 January 23 - .
1968 January 27 - .
1968 January 28 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1968 February 1 - .
1968 February 1 - .
1968 February 6 - .
1968 February 7 - . LV Family: , Proton, .
1968 February 17 - .
1968 February 21 - . LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/D.
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1968 May 7 - .
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1968 June 17 - .
1968 July 10 - .
1968 July 12 - .
1968 July 29 - .
1968 August 8 - .
1968 August 23 - . LV Family: N1.
1968 September 12 - .
1968 September 13 - .
1968 September 23 - .
1968 October 9 - .
1968 October 18 - .
1968 October 24 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1968 November 13 - .
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1968 November 16 - .
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1968 December 16 - .
1968 December 23 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1968 December 25 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1968 December 25 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1968 December 26 - .
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1968 December 27 - .
1968 December 30 - .
1969 January 10 - . LV Family: N1.
1969 January 10 - . LV Family: N1.
1969 January 12 - .
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1969 January 18 - .
1969 January 18 - .
1969 January 20 - . 04:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/23. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/D. FAILURE: Second stage - One RD-0210 engine fails at T+510 sec, resulting in flight path deviation, automatic shutoff of launch vehicle.. Failed Stage: 2.
1969 January 22 - .
1969 January 22 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 January 23 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 January 24 - .
1969 January 24 - .
1969 January 25 - . LV Family: N1, Proton.
1969 January 26 - . LV Family: N1.
1969 January 27 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 January 28 - . LV Family: N1.
1969 January 29 - .
1969 January 30 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 January 31 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 January 31 - .
1969 February 9 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 February 9 - . LV Family: N1.
1969 February 10 - .
1969 February 16 - . LV Family: N1.
1969 February 21 - . 09:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC110R. LV Family: N1. Launch Vehicle: N-1 11A52. FAILURE: First stage failure.. Failed Stage: 1.
1969 April 16 - .
1969 May 8 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 May 29 - .
1969 June 1 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 June 3 - .
1969 June 18 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 July 21 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 July 21 - .
1969 July 22 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 July 30 - .
1969 August 1 - . LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/D.
1969 August 1 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 August 9 - . LV Family: N1.
1969 September 1 - .
1969 September 18 - .
1969 September 19 - .
1969 September 20 - .
1969 September 23 - . LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/D.
1969 September 24 - .
1969 September 30 - .
1969 October 3 - .
1969 October 5 - .
1969 October 6 - .
1969 October 8 - .
1969 October 12 - . 10:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511.
1969 October 18 - .
1969 October 19 - .
1969 October 23 - .
1969 November 3 - .
1969 November 5 - .
1969 December 1 - .
1969 December 6 - .
1969 December 26 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1969 December 30 - .
1969 December 31 - .
1970 January 19 - .
1970 February 1 - . LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K.
1970 February 8 - .
1970 February 16 - . LV Family: N1.
1970 February 18 - .
1970 February 25 - .
1970 February 26 - .
1970 February 27 - .
1970 March 5 - .
1970 April 9 - .
1970 April 23 - .
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1970 May 13 - .
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1970 May 30 - .
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1970 July 6 - .
1970 July 23 - .
1970 July 26 - .
1970 July 30 - .
1970 September 23 - .
1970 September 24 - .
1970 September 24 - .
1970 September 24 - . LV Family: N1.
1970 September 25 - . LV Family: N1.
1970 October 16 - .
1970 October 20 - . LV Family: N1.
1970 October 23 - .
1970 October 24 - .
1970 October 28 - .
1970 October 28 - .
1970 October 30 - .
1970 November 12 - .
1970 November 17 - .
1970 November 26 - .
1970 December 13 - .
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1970 December 19 - .
1970 December 23 - .
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1971 January 9 - .
1971 January 14 - .
1971 January 16 - .
1971 January 20 - .
1971 January 27 - .
1971 February 1 - .
1971 February 5 - .
1971 February 8 - .
1971 February 17 - .
1971 February 27 - .
1971 March 1 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1971 March 3 - .
1971 March 4 - .
1971 March 5 - .
1971 March 19 - .
1971 March 22 - .
1971 March 23 - .
1971 April 5 - .
1971 April 14 - .
1971 April 14 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1971 April 15 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1971 April 15 - .
1971 April 23 - .
1971 April 24 - .
1971 May 3 - .
1971 May 4 - .
1971 May 7 - . LV Family: N1.
1971 May 8 - .
1971 May 12 - .
1971 May 14 - .
1971 May 17 - .
1971 May 18 - .
1971 June 1 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1971 June 3 - .
1971 June 4 - .
1971 June 11 - .
1971 June 16 - .
1971 June 17 - .
1971 June 18 - .
1971 June 27 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1971 June 28 - .
1971 June 29 - .
1971 July 5 - .
1971 July 7 - .
1971 July 23 - . LV Family: N1.
1971 August 2 - . LV Family: N1.
1971 August 10 - .
1971 August 12 - .
1971 September 21 - . LV Family: N1.
1971 September 26 - . LV Family: N1.
1971 September 29 - .
1971 October 1 - .
1971 October 10 - . LV Family: N1.
1971 November 11 - . LV Family: N1.
1971 November 15 - .
1972 January 1 - .
1972 June 16 - .
1972 June 16 - .
1972 June 30 - .
1972 August 2 - . LV Family: N1.
1972 August 15 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1972 August 21 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1972 September 20 - .
1973 January 9 - . LV Family: N1.
1973 July 13 - .
1973 October 5 - . LV Family: N1, Proton, R-7.
1973 December 8 - .
1973 December 11 - . LV Family: N1, Proton, N11.
1974 January 2 - . LV Family: N1, R-7, N11, Molniya 8K78L.
1974 February 28 - . LV Family: N1, R-7, N11, Molniya 8K78L.
1974 April 1 - . LV Family: N1, R-7, N11, Molniya 8K78L.
1974 May 1 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1974 May 2 - . Launch Vehicle: N1.
1974 July 30 - .
1974 August 1 - .
1974 August 13 - .
1974 August 31 - .
1975 January 1 - .
2001 October 10 - .

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