Virtual exhibition. Interplanetary Society

CHAPTER VIII Literary activity of M. Yu. Lermontov in his university years Lyrical motives. - Longing for the above-ground world. - Love for Varenka Lopukhina. - Angel of Death. - Byronism. - Ishmael Bey. As a subjective nature, Lermontov remembered well everything that happened to him

Literary activity until 1837 I In St. Petersburg, Lermontov’s life flowed cheerfully and noisily. Many of the everyday questions on which his youthful mind had worked so hard now appeared before him in their real nakedness, without romantic fog, without exaggeration in

Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications- the world's first association of rocketry and space flight enthusiasts. Created on June 20, 1924 in Moscow.

In the last days of May 1924, posters were posted on the streets of Moscow, which attracted the attention of almost every passerby. And it’s not surprising: the first thing that caught your eye on this poster were the words: “Interplanetary travel.” This was an announcement about the report of M. Ya. Lapirov-Skoblo. After the lecture by M. Ya. Lapirov-Skoblo, registration as a member of the Society was made. Almost 200 people signed up. Some of the sheets on which the recordings were made have survived. Here is the data on the 121 people who signed up: men - 104, women - 17.

They were distributed by age as follows:

Less than 20 years - 22 people from 20 to 30 - 68 from 30 to 40 - 20 from 40 to 50 - 6 over 50 - 5

By occupation, the members of the Society were:

Students (mostly from higher educational institutions) - 53 employees and workers - 43 scientists - 14 writers - 6 scientists and inventors - 5

It is quite natural that more than half of those who signed up were young people - workers, students, etc. It was the young enthusiasts, supported by scientists - the same enthusiasts - who began work in the new Society.

On June 20, the first (organizational) meeting of the Society took place, marking the beginning of its existence. In the small hall of the astronomical observatory of the Moscow Department of Public Education, crowded to capacity, about 200 people gathered, united by the thought of achieving a great goal - interplanetary communications. At the presidium table, three slender, fit young men in pilot uniforms are animatedly talking to each other. These are V. P. Kapersky, M. G. Leiteizen and M. A. Rezunov.

As a sign of solidarity with the discoveries of K. E. Tsiolkovsky, which are of great importance, and paying tribute to his enormous merits, the chairman proposes to elect him as an honorary member of the Society. The proposal is accepted with enthusiasm.

The main directions of the society's activities should be: research work; an association of citizens of the USSR “working in the field of studying interplanetary communications or conducting scientific development of issues related to this area”, collecting information about research conducted abroad in this area.

In addition, the Society sets itself the task of disseminating among the general public correct information about the current state of all aspects of the issue related to the study of interplanetary communications. To achieve this, the Society plans to organize lectures, reports, exhibitions, create libraries, and publish popular and scientific literature, both original and translated.

Having adopted the Charter, the general meeting elected a governing body consisting of seven people: F. A. Tsander, M. G. Leiteizen, V. P. Kapersky, M. A. Rezunov, V. I. Chernov, M. G. Serebrennikov and G. M. Kramarova.

Kramarov was elected Chairman of the Society.

At the same time, the Society's book stall was also opened.

The first meeting of the board took place on June 23. Sections were created at it: research (reactive) consisting of A. F. Tsander, M. G. Leiteisen and M. A. Rezunov, popular science (the responsibility of its members included organizing reports and lectures at enterprises and institutions , educational institutions, etc. - M. G. Serebrennikov and G. M. Kramarov) and literary (she was supposed to publish the Society’s journal and develop a film script about interplanetary flights - V. P. Kapersky and V. I. Chernov ).

The Society dissolved in 1925.

The middle of the 20th century was marked by many outstanding scientific achievements, among which the most significant was the beginning of the practical exploration of outer space. In the early 20s, our country began to actively promote the ideas of K.E. Tsiolkovsky about space flights, ideas of astronautics.

In this, a certain role belonged to the astronomical public organizations of that time - societies and circles.

As already mentioned, one of the founders of the world’s first Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications (OSIMS), together with the Military Scientific Society of the Air Force Academy, was the Moscow Society of Astronomy Amateurs (MOLA). On January 20, 1924, at a meeting of the theoretical section of MOLA, engineer F. A. Tsander, one of the first scientists who took up the practical solution of space flight problems in the early 20s, gave a report “Project of an apparatus for interplanetary travel.”

Unfortunately, the text of his report has not survived. However, in the F.A. Foundation Zander in the archives of the USSR Academy of Sciences contains the scientist’s handwritten “Lecture notes on my interplanetary spacecraft, given in the theoretical section of the Moscow Society of Astronomy Amateurs,” as well as a summary of the report. From these documents it is clear that in his report F.A. Zander paid special attention to his calculations of a liquid rocket engine designed to run on liquid oxygen and hydrogen.

F. In his report, Zander examined not only the design of an interplanetary spacecraft, but also the speeds required for flight to other celestial bodies, flight times and trajectories, and the possibility of using a solar sail to propel an interplanetary spacecraft. At the conclusion of the report F.A. Zander pointed out the need for a comprehensive study of interplanetary spacecraft designs. F. Zander paid special attention to the desirability of creating a scientific society for the study of interplanetary travel. The report was accompanied by a “demonstration of formulas and tables using a foggy light lantern.”

It seems to us that the report of F.A. It was not by chance that Zander’s talk about interplanetary flights was raised at the MOLA meeting: this topic had been touched upon at the Moscow Society of Astronomy Amateurs before. Thus, on December 23, 1923, at a meeting at MOLA, the famous Soviet aerodynamicist V.P. spoke with a report “Theoretical calculation of interplanetary travel”. Vetchinkin.

February 24, 1924 V.P. Vetchinkin performed again at MOLA. And although the topic of his message was astrophysical (The fall of aerolites in an environment of variable density), one might think (the report has not survived) that he connected it with interplanetary flights, in particular, with the problem of an interplanetary spacecraft entering the atmosphere of the Earth or a planet. This conclusion follows from the fact that V.P. Vetchinkin became one of the first Soviet scientists to correctly assess the significance of K.E.’s research. Tsiolkovsky.

An important link in the history of a new public organization directly related to the development of the problem of interplanetary communications - the Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications - was a meeting at MOLA on January 20, 1924, at which F.A. spoke. Zander.

Another important event in the life of this society is connected with the history of MOLA and the astronomical observatory MONO, where MOLA meetings took place: on June 20, 1924, the first (organizational) meeting of the Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications (SIMS) was held in the premises of the astronomical observatory, which marked the beginning of its existence . The meeting adopted the Society's charter. G.M. was elected chairman. Kramarov. F.A. joined the board. Zander. K.E. was unanimously elected an honorary member of the Society. Tsiolkovsky. G.M. Kramarov later recalled: “...it was in the astronomical observatory of the Moscow Department of Public Education on June 20, 1924 that the foundation was laid for the society for the study of interplanetary communications, which included the director of the observatory A.K. Belyaev, employee of this observatory N.V. Sysoev, members of the Moscow Society of Astronomy Amateurs V.S. Berdichevskaya, V.L. Ginzburg, V.L. Pulver and many others."

Subsequently, this society launched a great deal of scientific and popularization work, rallied talented engineers, designers, and lecturers around problems related to astronautics, and contributed to the popularization of the idea of ​​rocket science and interplanetary communications. Members of the Society repeatedly gave reports and public lectures. Thus, on October 31, 1924, V.P. gave a public lecture “On Interplanetary Communications” in the Great Auditorium of the Polytechnic Museum in Moscow. Vetchinkin. After his lecture, a member of the Moscow Society of Astronomy Amateurs V.I. spoke with an information message that the society was starting to develop technical requirements for the All-Union competition to create a rocket for studying the upper layers of the atmosphere. Chernov, one of the first to become members of the Society for Interplanetary Communications. The chairman of the Moscow Society of Astronomy Amateurs, Professor A.A., was also invited to participate in the debate on the reports of Vetchinkin and Chernov. Mikhailov.

At another debate evening (October 1, 1924), dedicated to flights to other planets, together with the main speaker - F.A. Zander was performed by a member of the ROLM Council, astronomer V.V., who specially came from Leningrad. Sharonov. The reason for this evening was rumors about the supposed flight of R. Goddard's rocket to the Moon. The society decided to publicly express its attitude towards these rumors. In his speech V.

B. Sharonov pointed out that “the implementation of interplanetary communications is the great dream of mankind, the path to further unraveling the mysteries of the universe.”

The Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications failed to create the production base necessary for scientific and practical work in this area, and about a year later, in 1925, it ceased to exist.

In the history of Soviet cosmonautics, OIMS left a noticeable mark. This was the first association of rocketry and space flight enthusiasts in world history. The society has made real steps in uniting the efforts of scientists, engineers, designers and other enthusiasts interested in the problems of space exploration. The small organizational experience of the society was later used in organizing various groups in which the first practical work on future space flights began.

A group of enthusiasts and, first of all, F.A. Zander, continued to strive for the opening of a new society and support for work related to the implementation of the idea of ​​​​K.E. Tsiolkovsky. Among the other organizations to which Zander addressed these proposals in 1930 was again the Moscow Society of Astronomy Amateurs. In the questionnaire sent to MOLA on February 17, 1930, in paragraph 10, Zander wrote: “... I consider it highly desirable to include work on interplanetary travel in the goals of the society» .

The following year F.A. Zander again turned to MOLA: he offered to give a lecture “Problems of Interplanetary Communications” for members of the society. This lecture was given by him at the MOLA meeting on April 22, 1931. The text of the lecture has not survived. However, in the Zander fund in the archives of the USSR Academy of Sciences there is a list of transparencies and diagrams for this lecture, handwritten by the scientist.

At MOLA during these years there were many enthusiasts about the problem of interplanetary communications. Some of them were closely associated with K.E. Tsiolkovsky, visited him in Kaluga, corresponded with him. Here, for example, is one of the letters (dated May 8, 1931) addressed to K.E. Tsiolkovsky: “... As a member of the Moscow Society of Astronomy Amateurs, I know well that you are the first teacher in the field of research to conquer outer space. I personally place your name next to the greatest geniuses of immortal theories known to mankind.

I am now working on the creation in Moscow of the All-Union Society of Interplanetary Communications (VOIMS) and, of course, your instructions and advice, as well as your works, are now more than ever needed by me...”

The issue of creating a section for interplanetary communications in the MOLA system was considered at a meeting of the MOLA board on May 10, 1931. And although the section was not created under MOLA: the society could not provide it with technical and financial capabilities, the speeches of MOLA board members emphasized the feasibility of its creation on the basis of Osoaviakhim . It was decided to send the corresponding message to the Central Council of Osoaviakhim, where after some time a section was created to deal with the problem of interplanetary flights.

Problems of interplanetary communications, development of ideas by K.E. Tsiolkovsky was also interested in other astronomical societies and circles.

It was already said above that in the Russian Society of World Science Lovers back in 1913, the idea of ​​interplanetary communications and the work of K.E. Tsiolkovsky began to promote Ya.I. Perelman. After the Great October Socialist Revolution, ROLM not only continued to promote this problem, but also decided to actively support the founder of theoretical cosmonautics K.E. Tsiolkovsky in his pioneering work on the “exploration of world spaces using jet instruments.”

At the 98th (annual) general meeting of ROLM on June 5, 1919, the outstanding Russian scientist was elected an honorary member of ROLM as “the author of numerous works on physical and mathematical sciences, in which he carried out bold and, moreover, scientifically based ideas about interplanetary communications and theoretical practical issues of aeronautics".

Chairman of ROLM Professor N.A. Morozov, in his letter dated June 5, 1919, No. 97, wrote to Kaluga K.E. Tsiolkovsky that he was elected an honorary member of ROLM “... in a sign of respect for the merits of scientists... You have developed bold and scientifically based ideas about interplanetary communications and instruments built on the principle of a rocket... ". K.E. Tsiolkovsky responded to N.A. on June 12, 1919. Morozov: “... I ask you, at the first opportunity, to convey my sincere gratitude to the Society for the high honor given to me...»

On July 30, 1919, at the 100th (annual) general meeting of ROLM K.E. Tsiolkovsky was approved as a lifelong member of the society. ...Now they are carefully stored in Kaluga, in the memorial House-Museum of K.E. Tsiolkovsky two membership cards of the Russian Society of Lovers of World Studies for 1920 (signed by A. Chikin) and for 1921 (signed by N.A. Morozov), issued in the name of honorary member of ROLM K.E. Tsiolkovsky.

Tsiolkovsky was interested in the work of ROLM. The library in the memorial House Museum in Kaluga has a large number of copies of the ROLM journal “World Studies” (from 1918 to 1930) with notes from the scientist. Judging by them, Tsiolkovsky carefully looked through these magazines. So. in the magazine “World Studies” No. 1 for 1926, there is a note from Tsiolkovsky on the cover.

And in the future, ROLM more than once returned to the topic of interplanetary communications and organized meetings with reports on these issues. V.P., specially invited from Moscow, spoke repeatedly at these meetings. Vetchinkin. About his speeches at the ROLM meeting (as well as about the speeches in this society about interplanetary flights by the famous Leningrad scientist and promoter of space flights, Professor N.A. Rynin, who, in particular, published in those years (1928-1932) a unique encyclopedia on interplanetary communications ) N.A., who often attended these meetings at that time, recalls with warmth. Kozyrev, now a famous Soviet astronomer. He talks about the great erudition of V.P. Vetchinkin, about his ability to convey to listeners in an accessible language the most difficult questions related to the theory of space flight, about the enthusiasm that gripped the audience when the problems of interplanetary communications were discussed.

Knew about performances in ROLM and K.E. Tsiolkovsky. In a letter to Professor B.B. He wrote to Kazhinsky on April 6, 1925: “... The famous Perelman told me that Professor Vetchinkin confirmed publicly (in a report to world scientists - Peter) the correctness of my calculations about the rocket. The first professor was so distinguished..." Since 1921, the then young science propagandist V.I. began to give public lectures on behalf of ROLM, as well as in the press. Pryanishnikov. Together with Ya.I. Perelman, V.V. Sharonov, M.

S. Eigenson and other enthusiasts, he was one of the first active propagandists of the idea of ​​K.E. in the country. Tsiolkovsky, was in correspondence with the scientist. Already in the 20-30s V.I. Pryanishnikov gave several thousand lectures on astronomy and interplanetary travel.

It is about such people - enthusiasts, propagandists, like V.P. Vetchinkin, K.L. Baev, V.I. Pryanishnikov. V.V. Sharonov, V.E. Lvov, N.A. Rynin and others, wrote K.E. Tsiolkovsky in a letter to N.A. To Rynin on May 14, 1927: “... The merit of these people is great, because new ideas must be supported until they come true... Few people have such courage, but this is a very precious feeling of people...»

The famous Soviet astronomer, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor V.V. Sharonov, who witnessed the beginning of the space age of mankind, almost four decades after his first lectures on astronautics, wrote in 1960 in a letter to the author of this book that he was happy that he “ it fell to our lot to live to see that amazing era that is the beginning of the practical conquest of space. What in the days of my youth seemed to me only a dream, which, if realized, would take place in a thousand years, has become a reality before the eyes of our generation» .

In the 20s, the propaganda of interplanetary communications, the ideas of K.E. Tsiolkovsky was also involved in the Nizhny Novgorod circle of physics and astronomy lovers, with which K.E. Tsiolkovsky maintained a very close, friendly relationship, starting in 1893, when he was unanimously elected to the circle.

October 11, 1927 K.E. Tsiolkovsky was elected an honorary member of the Odessa Society of World Studies Lovers. Tsiolkovsky was also in correspondence with members of this society.

At the Kharkov Astronomical Circle, numerous lectures on interplanetary flights were given by the head of the circle, Professor N.P. Barabashov. And many more members of astronomical circles and public astronomical observatories in different cities of our country in those years conducted lecture propaganda of interplanetary flights, contributed not only to the dissemination of knowledge among the population, but to some extent to the development of work in the field of rocketry.

Noting the enormous contribution to the promotion of astronautics, the International Astronomical Union assigned the names of V.V. to the craters on the far side of the Moon. Sharonova. Ya.I. Perelman. V.P. Vetchinkina. N.A. Rynina, M.S. Eigenson. F. Zandera. K.E. Tsiolkovsky, and on Mars - N.P. Barabashova.

As was said, in public scientific organizations (MOLA. ROLM, OIMS and other societies and circles), in which work was carried out to promote Tsiolkovsky’s ideas in the 20-30s, there were no funds for carrying out practical work. Organizations were needed that would practically develop rockets, propulsion systems for them, and fuel.

The Gas Dynamics Laboratory (GDL) became such an organization. worked in Leningrad in 1928-1933. and created on the basis of the Laboratory for the development of inventions of engineer N.I., which existed since 1921. Tikhomirov. It was the first Soviet missile research and development organization. The first rockets using smokeless powder were created at the GDL. In the same organization, the world's first experimental electrothermal rocket engines and the first Soviet liquid rocket engines were designed and successfully tested. Their designer and development manager was a young engineer at the time, who had just graduated from Leningrad University V.P. Glushko. So, a recent activist of the astronomical circle of the Odessa Society of World Science Lovers, who began his first steps in science there in 1922, V.P. Glushko became the founder of the domestic rocket engine industry, one of the pioneers of rocket technology.

In parallel with the work of the GDL, a public organization was formed in Leningrad in November 1931 with the goal of uniting the efforts of rocketry enthusiasts - the Leningrad Group for the Study of Jet Propulsion (LenGIRD). LenGIRD actively promoted rocketry, organized demonstration launches of small powder rockets, developed a number of original designs for experimental rockets, and created courses on the theory of jet propulsion. Among the organizers of LenGIRD were prominent science propagandists and astronomers - members of ROLM Ya.I. Perelman and V.I. Pryanishnikov. LenGIRD's astronomy consultant was astronomer M.S. Eigenson, who taught at Leningrad University in those years.

In 1931, the Jet Propulsion Study Group (GIRD) was also created in Moscow under the Central Council of Osoaviakhim. The merit of the Moscow GIRD was the transfer of problems of jet technology from the field of theoretical research to the field of scientific experiments and engineering practice. F.A. stood at the cradle of GIRD. Zander and the future famous Soviet rocket scientists led by S.P. Korolev. The Soviet government, the leaders of the People's Commissariat of Defense K.E. provided energetic support to GIRD. Voroshilov and M.N. Tukhachevsky, as well as the Chairman of the Central Council of Osoaviakhim R.P. Eideman.

Along with the Gas Dynamics Laboratory in Leningrad, the GIRD played a major role in the emergence of Soviet rocketry.

In 1933, on the basis of the Gas Dynamics Laboratory in Leningrad and the Moscow GIRD, the Jet Research Institute (RNII) was organized in Moscow, the topics of which covered all the main problems of rocket technology. All these research and development organizations made a creative contribution to the birth and development of rocket and space systems in the USSR.

Notes

. Tsander F.A. From scientific heritage. M.: Nauka, 1967, p. 28-30.

Most recently, our young Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications in Moscow announced a competition for a rocket to achieve high altitudes. It would be desirable for as many readers of this article as possible to take part in it.

For flights to the Moon or other planets, it will be best to use interplanetary ships of a special design, which will be equipped for long-distance flights with everything necessary: ​​breathing apparatus, greenhouses, meteorite protection devices, solar engines, tools for repairing the ship, a rocket to further accelerate the flight and to bypass meteorite showers that may occur along the way, etc.

The field of rocket design is still poorly developed. Further energetic work in this matter would be desirable, which would give us the opportunity to establish ourselves in interplanetary space, revolving around the Earth, and conquering, further flying away, new freedom, new opportunities, new globes."

Some of the author's statements will seem somewhat naive to the modern reader. But we must not forget that the article was written at a time when the transition from the theoretical study of the problems of interplanetary communications to their practical implementation was just beginning. It is in this sense that it has a certain interest even today.

The same can be said about M. A. Rezunov’s article “The Dream of Humanity.” It conveys well the mood of the Society members. Unquenchable optimism, firm confidence that interplanetary flights will be carried out - this is the main content of the article. Its author, a member of the board of our Society, opened fire on conservatives, extinguishers of new thought, people of little faith who delayed the development of science.

“With all the great discoveries of science,” wrote M. A. Rezunov, “there are people who try to throw mud at every bold idea...

Let's hope that the greatest dream of humanity, supported by the development of technology, will not be abandoned...

This dream will come true not today or tomorrow. True, much has not yet been clarified; Hundreds of great minds will have to work hard, but in the history of science, human genius has not overcome such obstacles."

Everything was ready for the release of "Rocket". But even its first issue was never published. We were unable to overcome numerous difficulties and especially the lack of funds.

We cannot help but recall another failure of ours: on June 13, 1924, the Izvestia newspaper published the article “The Notorious Rocket.” Its author challenged the very idea of ​​the possibility of interplanetary communications using a rocket engine. Mocking space flight enthusiasts, he called them “domestic Cyranos de Bergeracs.”

In his response article “Rocket to the Moon,” the original of which is now kept in the Society’s archives, Society board member V. I. Chernov explains in detail the possibility of reaching the planets using a jet engine and dwells, in particular, on the rocket project of F. A. Tsander.

“The young Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications, just organized in Moscow,” the article says, “just like a number of Russian inventors and prominent scientists, fully armed with modern science and technology, is trying to turn humanity’s cherished dream into reality.”

In conclusion, V.I. Chernov notes: “When the human genius, with an audacious impulse, cuts a new hole in the recesses of the universe, when milestones of new, perhaps greatest, discoveries are outlined, there are always conservative-minded people who try to belittle the merits of the first brave pioneers, usually referring to their utopianism. But they won’t succeed!”

The Section, and then the Society, spent a lot of work and trouble preparing scripts for films about interplanetary communications.

On this occasion, M. G. Leiteisen writes to K. O. Tsiolkovsky on May 4: “We are already negotiating with the board of Proletkino. Our task is to stage one of the interplanetary novels and use this dramatization to popularize scientific data related to interplanetary communications, and to disseminate ideas about the feasibility of these messages."

“I fully sympathize with your desire to stage the fantasy of interplanetary travel. I will be very glad if you use my “Out of Earth”. But it is difficult to use cinematography here. You can take all sorts of poses on the black floor and photograph from above. But, firstly, movements in a supine position will be difficult and will not correspond to movement in a space free from gravity, and secondly, the distances from the actors’ apparatus must be different. This is also not easy to arrange.”

Perhaps it was not so difficult as Konstantin Eduardovich imagined, but even so, the level of cinematography at that time is incomparable with the present one

In his letter to Tsiolkovsky dated May 1, M. G. Leiteisen once again returned to this issue: “It would, of course, be too difficult to stage Out of Earth. We decided to give our film a somewhat everyday character: the action should take place in our day in Soviet Russia".

A draft of the script written by M. G. Rezunov has been preserved in the Society’s archives. It was not sufficiently developed and does not shine with literary merits. Nevertheless, it is of certain interest as one of the first attempts to popularize the ideas of interplanetary communications through cinema.

The young turner Stepan was greatly impressed by a newspaper article about interplanetary flights. He began to work on creating a machine for flights outside the earth's atmosphere. Develops one model after another, fixes problems, and improves it more and more.

Here is Stepan with the chairman of the Voluntary Air Fleet Society. He grabs the door handle several times. Doubts, hesitates. Finally he comes in. Meetings, meetings, disputes. Eventually the project is accepted. With the help of engineers, Stepan begins to build his spacecraft. A lot of questions arise that require immediate resolution. And the further, the more. Good luck and bad luck! Successes and failures!..

But Stepan’s device is ready. Departure to Mars. Meeting with the Martians.

Then there are adventures reminiscent of the events of Aelita by A. Tolstoy: revolutionary battles, new friends, meeting the beautiful Le, who, after Stepan’s departure to Earth, remains on Mars... However, M. A. Rezunov pays much more attention to the work on creating the project , and then the spacecraft itself. The jet engine is described in detail. In addition, based on the descriptions of space flights that Tsiolkovsky gives in his works, the author in a number of frames tries to show how people felt in conditions of weightlessness, how braking, descent, etc. were carried out.

While sorting out my papers, I recently found a draft script for “On a Rocket to the Stars,” which I wrote in 1924. By this, I, like M.A. Rezunov, sought to help our Society in arousing interest in astronautics and in popularizing related scientific problems.

The action takes place in Russia in the last years of tsarism. K. E. Tsiolkovsky is busy developing the idea of ​​interplanetary communications. Fierce debate about the reality of his idea. Churchmen are especially vehemently opposed. Of course, even talking about the possibility of such flights harms them, destroying people’s idea of ​​the sky as the abode of God.

The main character is the son of an outstanding revolutionary figure like Kibalchich, whose struggle against autocracy is closely intertwined with the desire to fulfill the eternal dream of humanity - to conquer the sky.

The scientist manages to construct a device with a jet engine. But, awaiting arrest, he is forced to hide his project and calculations in a secluded place. The scientist bequeaths to pass them on to his son Victor when he reaches adulthood.

The revolutionary inventor's premonition is justified. He is arrested and executed.

Victor, following the example of his father, also takes an active part in the revolutionary movement and is forced to hide from the police. Taking with him the drawings and calculations, he flees to the United States of America to implement his father’s idea there.

Having recruited enthusiasts of interplanetary flights like him to help him, Victor begins to build a jet airship.

A major banker learns about the work on the airship and decides to make money on the invention. And when he fails to do this (Victor flatly refuses to join him in the company), the banker acts by force. He seizes the workshop and takes the ship and Victor to his country villa. However, not knowing how to handle the ship, the banker calls an engineer expert on flying machines from another city.

At this time, the banker's daughter, in love with Victor, informs the young inventor of her father's intentions and helps him escape. Victor's friends decide that he should go to Russia, where a revolution was taking place at that time, and they themselves will try to take the ship from the banker.

Taking advantage of the fact that the expert engineer did not show up at the appointed time (the wrong address was deliberately indicated on the envelope of the letter to him), one of Victor’s friends, under the guise of this engineer in makeup, comes to the banker. Having carefully examined the ship, he declares that it is necessary to test it on the move.

The imaginary expert engineer gives the start and flies to Russia, where Soviet power has already been created. The people and Government of the USSR enthusiastically welcome the arrival of the creators of the first air jet ship, which signified the beginning of victory over space!..