USSR-1

January 19, 1932 in Moscow, Chairman of the Hydrometeorological Committee of the RSFSR N. N. Speransky convened the first meeting to study the stratosphere . At this meeting, the report of the meteorologist V.I. Vitkevich on the tasks of studying the stratosphere was heard and a Commission on the study of the stratosphere was formed under his chairmanship. The first meeting of the Commission was held on January 22 . It outlined a work plan, which also included the construction of a stratospheric balloon to lift people to a height of 20-25 km. Commissioner M. N. Kanishchev was instructed to develop a draft stratospheric balloon .

The creation of a stratospheric balloon was led by the commander of the Separate Aeronautical Division G. A. Prokofiev . The aeronautics department of the Civil Aviation Research Institute of the Air Force and the aeronautics department of the Air Force Academy took part in the design and construction . Professor N. E. Zhukovsky , Research Institute of the Rubber Industry and other organizations.

One of the initiators of the construction of the stratospheric balloon and the designer of its gondola was V. A. Chizhevsky , head of the TsAGI Special Design Bureau. The gondola had a spherical shape with a diameter of 2.3 m and 9 portholes with a diameter of 120 and 150 mm for a circular view. Made it at the Moscow aircraft plant number 39 named. V.R. Menzhinsky . To conduct scientific research of the stratosphere in the gondola and outside it were installed instruments for the study of cosmic rays, electric field and electrical conductivity of the air, as well as accurate navigation instruments: altimeters, sextants, thermometers, recording barographs, meteorographs and variometers. On board the stratospheric balloon was a powerful radio station. On slings outside the gondola, special devices for taking air samples were suspended.

The shell of the stratospheric balloon differed from the shells of conventional balloons in its size - its volume was 24500 m³. They made a shell at the Moscow Kauchuk plant under the direction of K. D. Godunov . About 5,000 linear meters of percale matter produced by the Bogorodsk-Glukhov manufactory, on which thin layers of a special rubber composition were applied, went to it. The recipe and technological processes for the manufacture of shell fabric were developed by the employees of the Research Institute of the Rubber Industry E. N. Kuzina and G. K. Levitina.

The launch of the stratostat took place in the Moscow Region on September 30, 1933 at 0840 hours. Having reached a record height, the stratonauts sent a radiogram to the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, the Revolutionary Military Council, and the Council of People's Commissars:

Central Committee of the CPSU (b) - Comrade STALIN
Revolutionary Military Council - Comrade Voroshilov
Council of People's Commissars of the USSR - Comrade MOLOTOV.

The crew of the first Soviet stratospheric balloon fulfilled the task assigned to it and reports on the successful completion of the rise of the USSR stratospheric balloon to a height of 19,000 m (by instruments). The crew is ready for further work on mastering the stratosphere.

The commander of the stratospheric balloon "USSR" Prokofiev. Pilot Birnbaum. Engineer Godunov.

On the same day at about 5 p.m. a stratospheric balloon landed near the Kolomna plant. A specially formed commission recorded a world altitude record. By a resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of the USSR of November 14, 1933, all the organizers and participants of the flight were awarded orders. The Order of Lenin was received by the crew members of the stratospheric balloon G.A. Prokofiev, K.D. Godunov, E.K. Birnbaum, as well as S.L. Margolin, V.A. Chizhevsky, I.G. Moiseev, E.N. Cousins ​​who participated in the construction of the "USSR-1":

RESOLUTION OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE USSR ON REWARDING ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF FLIGHT TO THE STRATOSPHERE

Noting the brilliant fulfillment of the government’s task by the organizers and participants of the flight of the stratospheric balloon “USSR”, who wrote new glorious pages in the history of Soviet aviation and the study of the stratosphere, as well as the exceptional energy and knowledge of the work of workers and designers on the construction of the stratospheric balloon, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR

REWARD THE LENIN ORDER:

1. PROKOFYEV Georgy Alekseevich
pilot-pilot - for outstanding merit in organizing a flight to the stratosphere as a commander of the first stratospheric balloon in the USSR, reaching the world altitude record.

2. GODUNOV Konstantin Dmitrievich
Head of the Design Bureau of the Scientific Experimental Institute of the Rubber Industry - for outstanding services in the design of the stratosphere balloon and personal participation in the flight to the stratosphere.

3. BIRNBAUM Ernest Karlovich
Assistant to the Head of the 1st Sector of the Combat Training Directorate of the Air Forces of the Red Army for outstanding services in organizing a flight to the stratosphere and personal participation in the flight as a balloon pilot.

4. MARGOLINA Semyon Leontyevich
Director of Plant No. 39 — for exceptional merit in organizing a flight to the stratosphere and direct personal participation in leading the construction of the gondola of the first stratostat in the USSR.

5. CHIZHEVSKY Vladimir Antonovich
to the chief of the brigade of the Central Design Bureau Plant No. 39 for outstanding technical merits in the direct construction of the gondola of the first stratospheric balloon in the USSR.

6. MOISEEV Ivan Georgievich
Worker-foreman of plant No. 39, who personally carried out the most responsible work on the manufacture of a stratostat gondola.

7. KUZIN Elena Nikolaevna
Head of the first section of the Research Institute of the Rubber Industry - for outstanding technical merits in the development of the technological process of balloon fabric and the personal preparation of the formulation for it.

REWARD THE RED STAR:

8. GARAKANIDZE Vladimir Georgievich
pilot engineer of the Airship for the exceptionally skillful organization of all work at the start and the filling of the stratostat with hydrogen.

AWARD THE ORDER OF LABOR RED BANNER:

9. LEVITINA Geku Avramovna
Engineer of the Scientific Research Institute of the Rubber Industry - for his active participation in the manufacture of the stratostat shell formulation and the especially thorough verification of materials in the laboratory.

Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR SSR M. KALININ
Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR A. A. ENUKIDZE
Moscow Kremlin
November 14, 1933

• In 1933, a series of postage stamps of the USSR was issued in denominations of 5, 10 and 20 kopecks dedicated to the flight of a stratospheric balloon. ^[one]
• In 1983, the USSR postage stamp was issued with a face value of 20 kopecks, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the flight of the stratospheric balloon. Brand including issued in the form of a small sheet 4 * 2.
• On September 30, 2008, the anniversary meeting of the Academy of Aviation and Aeronautics Sciences was held, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the record flight of the USSR-1 stratospheric balloon. ^[2]

• Stratostat “ Osoaviahim-1 ”

• FLIGHTS TO THE STRATOSPHERE IN THE USSR In the 1930s.
• Flights to the stratosphere in the USSR in the 1930s. Part 2
• Stratospheric balloon "USSR-1"
• Stratonautics of Soviet Russia: Chronicle of Victories
• A. HARRY, L. CASSIL - CEILING OF THE WORLD