Lot 602
Tsiolkovsky, Konstantin (1857-1935) Pioneering Russian scientist and rocket designer who laid out the basic principles of modern space flight. Tsiolkovsky is credited with discovering the use of liquid fuel, staged booster rockets, and vanes in the exhaust for vector control. The first sputnik was launched on the 100th anniversary of Tsiolkovsky's birth.
Important, very rare AMS ("K. Tsiolkovsky") in the middle of the text, 2pp (1p recto/verso), on tan paper from a notebook, 9½" x 6", in Russian, n.p., n.d. (c. 1920-1930). Two full pages of notes on his work on rocket travel, including an incredible drawing of an astronaut in a space capsule wearing a helmet and being fed through a tube! In small part: "…Even among educated people opinions about the happenings in the theories of [what happens to] the rocket during its launch are very obscure. Science fiction authors' descriptions of events either do not exist or are not correct. I have the full right to say this based on my calculations and experience….The seeming halt in the rocket speed depends on the speed it receives from the pressure of the gasses….If acceleration…is fifty meters per second, the weight in [the rocket] will be six times that of earth weight because the speed of the latter is ten meters a second. At the time of the explosion in the rocket, there will be an increase in weight for three or four minutes, after the explosions stop, the weight will be eliminated because the acceleration…will be zero. The impact of the weight [on the human being] can be easily handled by being put in a strong, protective case of human form with a little bit of water…." Here Tsiolkovsky draws an astronaut in such a case wearing a helmet with a tube in his mouth, showing the aforementioned water, marked "water" at the bottom. He continues, "…Additional experiments must be run with the help of big centrifugal machines that will build up additional weight…." Tsiolkovsky is rare in any form, particulary with reference to his theories. Rough left margin, otherwise fine.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
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