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This article was published in The Russia Journal http://www.russiajournal.com/ ISSUE No.1 (144), DATE: 2002-01-18 "Moscow Mailbag" Secret rocket tests in the USSR revealed By JOE ADAMOV / Special to The Russia Journal Q: Can you tell me about the gigantic rocket explosion in the USSR in 1960? � M. Ilinden, Toronto, Canada. A: In 1960 as a result of an explosion on an R-16 intercontinental ballistic missile, over a hundred people perished in the flames. Some put the figure at115, others estimate the figure to be 126. Later, in 1963, during the fire in an underground shaft of the launch pad of an R-9A missile, all who were working there met their death. Both tragedies took place at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The R-16 had a range of 12,000 kilometers. The fuel they used was so toxic that even a gas mask was of no help. The rocket still needed much work in order to perfect it. On the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the Revolution, someone at the top decided to use the rocket to salute the anniversary. Chief designer Yangel and Commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces, Chief Marshal Nedelin, worked day and night on the R-16 missile to get it ready. While working they should have drained the fuel, but they did not, to save time. Thus they violated the safety rules. Designer Mikhail Yangel was saved by a fluke. He went for a cigarette some distance from the rocket, behind a concrete wall. The remains of Marshal Nedelin's body were difficult to identify, but his Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union helped. During the War, Lavrentii Beria, the murderous KGB chief, accused Nedelin of causing unnecessary losses in the Battle for Budapest. Luckily for him, three Marshals and a general stood up for him, and proved to Stalin that the accusation was unfounded. After the War Nedelin was not afraid to contradict Stalin and Beria and prove that a group of generals and Marshals were not so called "enemies of the people." He thus saved their lives. Later they were rehabilitated. The next day after Marshal Nedelin perished in the flames, the TASS news agency announced that he had died in a plane crash. The site of the tragedy was visited by Leonid Brezhnev, then Secretary of the Party in charge of Defence. Speaking to one of the men, Brezhnev said it was always difficult to be the first in any field. The Americans at Cape Canaveral had it easier, he said, they had brothels there. But you are Soviet people and must bear the difficulties for the sake of the Motherland. After talking to the people there, he went fishing, one of his favorite pastimes. __________ E-mail Joe at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Copyright 2000 The Russia Journal http://www.russiajournal.com/ ===== "We're all downwinders!" Check out http://www.downwinders.org __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
