The Presidential Library spotlighted the character and scientific legacy of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

On September 15, 2022 the Presidential Library held a video lecture “Heavenward” marking the 165th anniversary since the birth of Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky within the project “Knowledge of Russia”.

K. I. Tsiolkovsky (1857 – 1935) was a remarkable Russian scientist. He laid the theoretical foundations of cosmonautics, conducted work in various fields of transportation, wrote papers on social structure, called his worldview a cosmic philosophy.

Vera Alekseyeva, Head of the Scientific and Educational Department of the Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of the Cosmonautics told about the life of the scientist, the fate of his legacy and the current publication of his works.

Yekaterina Prilukova, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of the Department of Philosophy of the South Ural State University gave a presentation entitled “Mysteries of K. E. Tsiolkovsky’s Universe”. There, she analyzed the philosophical worldview of the scientist within the Russian cosmism, his thoughts on the destiny of humanity and mind in the Universe, fates of the Earth, social action strategies – from a hostile existence to solidarity on the Earth and entering the Solar system, from universal ideals of earthly humanity to the community of space races.

Olga Selivanova, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Head of the Acquisition Department of the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences presented a short history and review of the personal collection of Tsiolkovsky, preserved in the Archive of RAS.

Yulia Kostina, Head of the Scientific and Methodological Work Department of the Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow touched upon a debatable issue of the meeting of the founding fathers of the world cosmonautics K. E. Tsiolkovsky and S. P. Korolev, constant discussions of which are still ongoing. Participants of the video lecture made an attempt to find answers to the following questions: Did the meeting really happen? Did Korolev visit Tsiolkovsky in Kaluga in 1929, or did they meet later?

More information about the life and work of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky is available in numerous sources on the Presidential Library’s portal in a special collection.

The recording of the event is available on the institution’s Rutube channel.

The Presidential Library regularly hosts interactive lessons and video lectures. Additional information is available on the institution’s portal in Multimedia Lessons section and Video Lectures for School section, which features the recordings of past lectures and open lessons held in the Presidential Library.