Struggle in Soviet Russia

As the team went deeper into the proving ground, some sporadic buildings and scattered vehicles began to appear on both sides of the road.

"I will raise the issue of building the road with the Central Secretariat and Comrade Stalin later," Victor said to Comrade Mishin, his eyes out of the car window, "other aspects, if you have anything else Difficulties and needs can also be raised at this opportunity, and within my ability, I will try my best to solve these problems for you.”

After a pause, he continued: "But within a research project, the solidarity and cooperation between researchers is still very important. Any academic, theoretical, or even personal conflicts should be Keep it within a manageable range, and you shouldn't let that opposite emotion affect your normal work, don't you think?"

Before coming to Kapuskin Yar this time, Comrade Stalin had specifically discussed with Viktor some issues concerning the rocket research and development project, including the conflict between the two comrades Korolev and Glushko.

As the two leading figures in the field of rocket research and development of the Alliance, the conflict between Korolev and Glushko has a long history. The cooperation between the two people is still very good. At that time, although there were occasional disputes between them, they had not yet reached the point of commotion.

Until the victory of the Great Patriotic War, when the alliance arranged a large number of experts to go to Germany to take over a series of missile research and development factories and test sites, there was a directional contradiction between the two based on the rocket engine problem. On the fuel issue, low-temperature fuel with liquid oxygen as oxidant is always used, while Glushko believes that hydrazine-based normal temperature fuel should be used.

Both have their own reasons, and neither of them will back down, so that the rift based on this contradiction is getting deeper and deeper. Before that, Korolev had already made a proposal to the People's Commissariat for Glushko to be kicked out of his research group in favor of Nikolai Dmitrievich Kuznetsov Comrades came to cooperate with him, while Glushko showed strong disdain for Comrade Kuznetsov. At the same time, he also asked to leave Korolev's research group and set up a new laboratory by himself.

This time Victor came to observe the test on behalf of Comrade Stalin, on the one hand to submit a report to the Secretariat of the Central Committee later, on the other hand, he also had the mission of reconciling the contradiction between Korolev and Glushko.

Of course, for Viktor himself, he did not hope that the contradiction between Korolev and Glushko could be merged. On the contrary, he hoped that the People's Committee would accept the request of the two and remove Glushko from Korolev's research group was split out, and he was asked to set up a brand new laboratory to develop his hydrazine-based room temperature fuel engine.

As a traveler, Victor still had some common sense understanding of the basic technology of rockets in his previous life. He knew that although liquid oxygen-based low-temperature fuels were low in pollution, even in the event of a failed launch, they would not It will cause too much environmental pollution, but the engine that uses it as the main fuel is lacking in propulsion. The hydrazine-based normal temperature fuel is toxic, and it is destructive to the environment, but the rocket engine fueled by it has a large thrust and high stability.

In Viktor's previous life, the domestic Long March series rockets used hydrazine-type room temperature fuel. Therefore, Viktor believes that the alliance does not need to choose between Korolev and Glushko's different propositions, but can completely make They exist in a competitive relationship, each doing their own thing.

Comrade Mishin didn't know what Victor was thinking. After hearing this, he naturally thought that Moscow was dissatisfied with the dispute between Korolev and Glushko. Therefore, Instinctively a little apprehensive.

"As for the contradiction between Comrade Sergei Pavlovich and Comrade Valentin Petrovich, I think the leading comrades may have misunderstood." After hesitating for a while, Comrade Mishin licked Licking his lips, he said cautiously, "The dispute between them is entirely based on technical theory, has nothing to do with personal feelings, and has no impact on real work, I..."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm just making a suggestion," Victor interrupted, smiling, "I'm not trying to characterize the conflict between them."

Hearing what he said, Comrade Mishin seemed to be relieved. He waited for a while and saw that Victor had no intention of continuing, and then continued: "I mean, in the research and development direction of rocket engines, Schell Comrade Guy Pavlovich and Comrade Valentin Petrovich could not reach a unanimous opinion. After all, it still has a certain influence on the research and development work. Therefore, Comrade Valentin Petrovich requested to set up another laboratory. , is also reasonable, at least it should be helpful to our research and development work."

"Well," after a pause in his tone, he thought for a while and said, "If this test mission can be successfully completed, Comrade Sergei Pavlovich also intends to present this test at tomorrow's technical report meeting. When the question was raised, after listening to what Comrade Valentin Petrovich said, the Ukrainian Design Bureau seems to be interested in accepting him..."

The "Ukrainian Design Bureau" mentioned by Comrade Mishin actually refers to the famous "Southern Design Bureau" in later generations. This design bureau entered its heyday in the era of Fedorovich Utkin, and it occupied the alliance's intercontinental ballistics. Half of the missile is a thorn in the eyes of the Americans, and after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, it belonged to Ukraine. In the years after that, the company survived by launching satellites for others, and also switched to the production of assault rifles. In the days before Victor was reincarnated, it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

"If Comrade Sergei Pavlovich really intends to transfer Comrade Valentin Petrovich, and at the same time Comrade Valentin Petrovich also intends to go to Ukraine, you can draft a formal Submit your report to me, and I will submit it for you when you return to Moscow this time," Victor said without hesitation.

"I will pass on your opinion to Comrade Sergei Pavlovich," Comrade Mishin said hastily.

As Comrade Korolev's assistant, Mishin naturally agreed with the transfer of Glushko, whether it was from Comrade Korolev's standpoint or his personal standpoint, he had to consider it.

One thing I have to admit is that for any technician, as long as he stays in the leadership position for a long time, his ideas and views will change unconsciously, and he will most likely change from a pure technician. , evolved into a bureaucracy that considered more political issues, and Korolev, whether Glushko, are like this.

At this time, on the west side of the road outside the car, rows of barracks began to appear, which should have been specially prepared for the guards of the test site. In addition, on the left side of the road, there was a large oversized car. The tractor behind this tractor also drags a special flatbed truck, a huge rocket almost in the shape of a spindle, which is now fixed on this flatbed truck with a length of more than ten meters.

It was at this time that the convoy began to slow down and eventually pulled to the side of the road. In the car, Victor's eyes have been completely attracted by the tractor pulling the rocket - yes, it is not the rocket on the flatbed truck that attracts his attention, but the one that looks enough A giant tractor three or four meters high.

This tractor is specially made, designed and produced by the Stalingrad Tractor Factory. So far, there is only such a tractor in the whole Union. Comrade Stalin knows its existence because it is the pride of the Union. Its successful production marked the alliance's ability to design and produce giant towing vehicles in-house.

Comrade Mishin, who was sitting next to him, began to talk about the rocket fixed on the flatbed truck. If he knew that in Victor's eyes, the tractor was more interesting than the rocket, he would probably have sprayed it on the spot. old blood.

In fact, it's not that Victor can't distinguish the key points, but... As a traverser, the rocket in front of him is really not enough to look at. , but that tractor was very fresh. In his previous life, he had never seen such a big... tractor.

The tractor is crawler type, and overall, the style is rough and savage, the refinement has nothing to do with it, but the practicality is absolute, which is also the unique style of the Alliance in any industrial product.

Seeing someone getting out of the cars in front of him, Victor also took the initiative to push the door and get out of the car. If nothing else, the rocket fixed on the flatbed truck should be the protagonist of today's test. In half a day, this rocket The rocket is about to be launched from here, and after spanning a distance of 900 kilometers, it will fall within the range of the previously scheduled sea area shooting range.

Prior to this, the R&D team led by Comrade Korolev had organized dozens of rocket test launches, some of which were successful and some failed, but today is the first time the test launch has a range of up to 900 kilometers.

Victor knew that Kapuskin Yar was the focus of the world's attention at the moment, and once today's test-fire mission was successful, in the next period of time, specifically, the Americans would also come up with their own. Before the Rockets, the alliance would have certain advantages in the diplomatic field.