TsNIIMash () is a Russian

rocket A rocket (from , and so named for its shape) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely ...

and

spacecraft A spacecraft is a vehicle that is designed spaceflight, to fly and operate in outer space. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including Telecommunications, communications, Earth observation satellite, Earth observation, Weather s ...

scientific center, dealing with all phases of development from conceptual design to flight test. The Institute is the main analytical center of Roskosmos in the field of system-wide studies of the problems of the development of Russia's RKT with a wide range of tasks: from conceptual design and long-term prospects for the development of rocket and space technology to specific technological developments and their conversion in the interests of other industries. It was established in 1946. The name TsNIIMash is an

initialism An acronym is a type of abbreviation consisting of a phrase whose only pronounced elements are the initial letters or initial sounds of words inside that phrase. Acronyms are often spelled with the initial letter of each word in all caps wi ...

for Central Research Institute of Machine Building ().

History

Originally called NII-88 (Scientific-Research Institute No.88), the entity was established on May 13, 1946, located at what was then called Kaliningrad, Moscow Oblast (now Korolyov), northeast of

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. It was based on Plant No. 88 (full name: M.I. Kalinin Plant No. 88, producing artillery and tanks during WW2) and headed by Dmitriy Ustinov who had successfully lobbied to control post-war research and development of rockets in late 1945. Impressed by his work in Germany on the analysis of the V-2, Ustinov appointed

Sergey Korolev Sergei Pavlovich Korolev (14 January 1966) was the lead Soviet Aerospace engineering, rocket engineer and spacecraft designer during the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s. He invented the R-7 Sem ...

chief designer of section 3 on long-range missiles, later called

OKB-1 S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation "Energia" () is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components. Its name is derived from the Russian word for energy and is also named for Sergei Korolev, Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, th ...

. In 1956, OKB-1 was removed from NII-88 to become an independent bureau.

Helmut Gröttrup Helmut Gröttrup (12 February 1916 – 4 July 1981) was a German engineer, rocket scientist and inventor of the smart card. During World War II, he worked in the German V-2 rocket program under Wernher von Braun. From 1946 to 1950 he headed a gr ...

headed a group of German scientists working for the Soviets at Branch 1 of NII-88 located on

Gorodomlya Island Gorodomlya Island () is located on Lake Seliger in Tver Oblast, Russia, northwest of Moscow. The closed urban-type settlement of Solnechny is located on the island. In June 1930, the People's Commissariat of Agriculture ('' Narkomzem'') bega ...

. Their job was to help reconstruct a Russian Version of the V-2, called the R-1, after which they were returned to Germany. The facility was also spied on by American U-2 spy planes in the late 1950s. Other notable personnel included

Kurt Magnus Kurt Magnus (September 8, 1912 - December 12, 2003) was a German scientist, expert in the field of applied mechanics, a pioneer of mechatronics, modern navigation technology and inertial sensors.

Activities

TsNIIMash performs the following activities: * Fundamental scientific and system research to prepare the basic strategy for spacecraft and rocket technology development. * Theoretical calculations and experimental research on aeronautical and gas dynamic loads in the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets, and in outer space. * Analysis of the thermal resistance of thermal shields in high-temperature gas flows. * Theoretical calculations and experimental qualification of designs under the influence of static, dynamic, shock, and thermal loads. * Ground control of spacecraft, as well as research and development of new methods and algorithms for guidance, ballistics and navigation. * Development of methods and instruments for mission control during orbital insertion, attitude re-orientation, stabilization, orbital maneuvering, re-entry and landing. * Reliability aspects of spacecraft and rocket engineering. * Standardization and harmonization of spacecraft and rocket engineering products, as well as certification and quality control. * Introduction of space technology in the national economy.

Directors

* 1946 – Alexander D.Kallistratov * 1946–1950 – Leo R.Honor * 1950–1952 – Konstantin Rudnev * 1952–1953 – Mikhail Kuzmich Yangel * 1953–1959 – Alex S. Spiridonov * 1959–1961 – Georgy Tyulin * 1961–1990 – Yuri Alexandrovich Mozzhorin * 1990–2000 – Vladimir Fedorovich Utkin * 2000–2008 – Nicholas Apollonovich Anfimov * 2008–2013 – Gennady G.Raikunov * 2013–2014 – Nikolai G. Panichkin * 2014–2015 – Alexander G.Milkovskii * 2015–2018 – Oleg Anatolyevich Gorshkov * 2018–2019 – Nikolay Nikolaevich Sevastyanov * From 2019 – Sergey Vladimirovich Koblov

2018
espionage Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering, as a subfield of the intelligence field, is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information ( intelligence). A person who commits espionage on a mission-specific contract is called an ...
arrests

On 21 July 2018, FSB raided offices of TsNIIMash and

Roscosmos The State Corporation for Space Activities "Roscosmos", commonly known simply as Roscosmos (), is a State corporation (Russia), state corporation of the Russian Federation responsible for space science, space flights, List of space agencies, c ...

Research and Analytical Center and arrested ten employees suspected of passing classified

hypersonic In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that exceeds five times the speed of sound, often stated as starting at speeds of Mach 5 and above. The precise Mach number at which a craft can be said to be flying at hypersonic speed varies, since i ...

Russian missile technologies to Western intelligence agencies. Arrested are accused of

high treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its d ...

. A senior researcher Sergey Meshcheryakov suspected of treason was put under house arrest in July 2019.

2022 fire

On 22 April 2022 buildings at the site were damaged by a large fire.

Literature

* "Space science city Korolev" – author: Posamentir R. D. M; publisher: SP Struchenevsky O. V. . * "I look back and have no regrets" – author: Abramov, Anatoly Petrovich; publisher: "New format", Barnaul, 2022. .

References

{{authority control Companies based in Moscow Oblast Defence companies of Russia Defence companies of the Soviet Union Soviet and Russian space institutions Research institutes in the Soviet Union Rocket engine manufacturers of Russia Federal State Unitary Enterprises of Russia Roscosmos divisions and subsidiaries Research institutes established in 1946 1946 establishments in the Soviet Union