Alexander Dmitrievich Zasyadko (russian: Александр Дмитриевич Засядко; 1779 – ), was artillery engineer of the Russian Imperial Army, of Ukrainian origin, lieutenant general of artillery. Designer and specialist in missile weapons development. In 1797, Zasyadko graduated from the ''

Artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

and

Engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...

School'' in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

(currently Mozhaysky Military Engineering-Space University). In 1815, Zasyadko began his work on creating

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...

rocket A rocket (from it, rocchetto, , bobbin/spool) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using the surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely fr ...

s. He constructed rocket-launching platforms, which allowed to fire in salvos (6 rockets at a time), and gun-laying devices. Zasyadko elaborated a

tactics Tactic(s) or Tactical may refer to: * Tactic (method), a conceptual action implemented as one or more specific tasks ** Military tactics, the disposition and maneuver of units on a particular sea or battlefield ** Chess tactics ** Political tact ...

for military use of rocket weaponry. In 1820, Zasyadko was appointed head of the Petersburg

Armory Armory or armoury may mean: * An arsenal, a military or civilian location for the storage of arms and ammunition Places *National Guard Armory, in the United States and Canada, a training place for National Guard or other part-time or regular mili ...

, Okhtensky Powder Factory,

pyrotechnic Pyrotechnics is the science and craft of creating such things as fireworks, safety matches, oxygen candles, explosive bolts and other fasteners, parts of automotive airbags, as well as gas-pressure blasting in mining, quarrying, and demolition. ...

laboratory A laboratory (; ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratory services are provided in a variety of settings: physic ...

and the first Higher Artillery School in Russia. In 1826, Zasyadyk was appointed chief of staff of the Russian artillery.https://ipoltavets.com/uk/eternal-yak-poltavecz-oleksandr-zasyadko-vynajshov-pershu-raketnu-zbroyu-ta-povernuv-hid-istoriyi In 1827, Zasyadko was in charge of Artillery Headquarters of the Russian army and took part in the

Russo-Turkish War The Russo-Turkish wars (or Ottoman–Russian wars) were a series of twelve wars fought between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire between the 16th and 20th centuries. It was one of the longest series of military conflicts in European histo ...

of 1828-1829, his rockets played important role during siege of Brăila and Varna. He organized rocket production in a special rocket workshop and created the first rocket sub-unit in the Russian army. In 1834, Zasyadko retired due to his illness. The crater Zasyadko on the

far side of the Moon The far side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that always faces away from Earth, opposite to the near side, because of synchronous rotation in the Moon's orbit. Compared to the near side, the far side's terrain is rugged, with a multitu ...

is named after him.

References

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External links

* http://www.space.hobby.ru/firsts/zasyadko.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Zasyadko, Alexander Dmitrievich Russian military engineers Russian inventors 19th-century engineers from the Russian Empire Imperial Russian Army generals 1779 births 1837 deaths Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Third Degree