Rewinding a bit, we find ourselves in the era of the USSR, the proud owner of the world's first ICBM - the R-7 Semjorka. This invention, offered to the Ministry of Defense by Korolev, was a symbol of supremacy, but it had limited practicality. The R7 was primarily designed for space expeditions. The rocket's liquid fuel required hours of pre-launch preparation, with a gap of nearly 30 hours between rocket placement and operational readiness - a duration grossly impractical for wartime deployment.
However, after achieving the record, Krushev gave Korolev unrestricted freedom to continue with space activities. This led to the historic launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1, in 1957, using the R7 launcher. Concurrently, Krushev sought an intercontinental missile that could be deployed operationally in a swift manner. The key to achieving this lay in the utilization of hypergolic fuel engines.
Hypergolic fuels are unique chemicals, specifically RFNA (hypoazotide) and UDMH (asymmetric dimethylhydrazine), that combust explosively upon contact at room temperature. These fuels can be stored in tanks for substantial periods due to their non-requirement of specific technologies to maintain them in a liquid state. However, these fuels are highly corrosive, extremely toxic if inhaled, and can cause catastrophic destruction upon contact.
The R-16, a brainchild of Engineer Mikhail Kuzmic Yaengel and Valentin Petrovich Glushko, was designed to harness the power of hypergolic fuels. The project was spearheaded by General Mitrofan Ivanovic Nedelin, who aimed to operationalize the R-16 by November 7, 1960, to commemorate the anniversary of the October Revolution. The R-16 prototype was transported to the Baikonur Cosmodrome's launch pad for testing on October 23, 1960.
Due to the limitations of the technology at the time, miniaturization of an electronic control system was impossible. Hence, the R-16's launch sequence was controlled by an electromechanical sequencer device named PTR. This complex system was susceptible to failures and was sensitive to spurious voltages, unwanted electrical charges circulating in the circuits due to the physical characteristics of electronic vacuum tubes. This phenomenon is well-known in the military world where the prevention of erroneous commands is crucial for the safe operation of weaponry.
Despite being aware of the issues surrounding the electromechanical sequencer device, PTR, the engineers were under immense pressure from General Nedelin to meet the November 7 deadline. In a bid to ensure the system's functioning, the engineers tested the first stage's containment disks with small charges. However, the test resulted in the second stage motors' disks blowing up, a development that alarmed the team. In response, they disconnected the launch batteries after noticing that the system had armed itself.
Simultaneously, the state commission, including Nedelin, arrived at the site. Impatient for success, Nedelin ordered his technicians to postpone the launch for 24 hours rather than hospitalize the missile for further testing. After working tirelessly through the night to repair what they could with the launcher still on the ramp, the team had the R-16 ready for launch on the morning of the 24th.
With 30 minutes left to launch, a technician was reprogramming the control unit near the launcher, surrounded by most of the personnel, including Nedelin. Unexpectedly, the second stage ignited, causing a fire wave that also hit the first stage, leading to a massive explosion. The instantaneous heat reached 1650°C, creating a visible fireball over 50 km away.
The tragedy resulted in the instantaneous incineration of 74 people, with the total number of victims exceeding a hundred due to severe burns sustained from the explosion. Among the victims was General Nedelin himself, who, along with all project managers, was outside the bunker. The only exception was Yaengel, who was saved due to being in the bunker, ironically, to light a cigarette. The horrific event was captured on film by a cameraman who accidentally activated his camera at the moment of the explosion.
Under direct orders from Khrushchev, an inquiry commission was established, and the incident was covered up as a state secret. Nedelin and the other designers were falsely reported to have died in plane crashes. A memorial stone was erected in 1963 at the site to commemorate the fallen.
The truth about the catastrophe, stemming from a General's excessive ambition to impress the Party leadership, only surfaced after the end of the USSR. The faulty PTR system was abandoned, replaced by an electronic computer to prevent future disasters. Consequently, the R-16 was operationally employed from 1961 until 1976, known in the West as the NATO SS-7 Saddler.
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