JF Ptak Science Books   Post 2527

V.I. Feodosiev (with his two initials looking ironically similar to the V1 that he wrote about) and G.B. Simiarev wrote a classic textbook¹ in rocket technology which was published in Moscow in 1958.  Even though it was translated and published in English the following year by Academic Press, the version here seems to have been translated in the same year as its Russian edition. I’ve had some translations-on-demand in the store that were fast-tracked for the particular agency that needed the work, translations that sometimes didn’t appear in English for years afterwards.  In this case the Feodosiev was translated (anonymously) for an undisclosed agency, though this copy wound up in the library of  the NASA Division of Research Information². It could well be that the work was produced for NASA but frankly there are many other candidates for the point of origin of interest.  This copy is definitely different from the Academic Press translation, so at least two different translations were made of the text.  

I really don’t have that much to offer here on this edition, except to note its differences from the Academic Press version, though this may be of some use to someone working in this area.  

• The original is available via the blog’s bookstore, here.

Here’s an abstract/summary of the work (which has a slightly different title)  by the Academic Press 1959 version of this publication: 

“Introduction to Rocket Technology focuses on the dynamics, technologies, aerodynamics, ballistics, theory of servomechanisms, principles of navigation instruments, and electronics involved in rocket technology.”

“The publication first takes a look at the basic relationships in the theory of reactive motion; types of jet propelled aircraft and their basic construction; and types of reaction motors and their construction. Discussions focus on air breathing motors, anti-aircraft rockets, long range bombardment rockets, surface to surface, short range bombardment missiles, thrust of a rocket motor, and operating efficiency of a rocket motor. The text then examines rocket motor fuels and processes in the combustion chamber of a rocket motor.”

[V-1, from page 42]