Soviet Space Substack

The Soviet Space Substack explores the intricacies of Soviet space exploration, including detailed analyses of spacecraft designs, missions, and technologies. It delves into historical documents, declassified information, and speculative designs, providing insights into the Soviet lunar program, space shuttles, and rocket engineering, accompanied by enhanced imagery and illustrations.

Soviet Space Exploration History Spacecraft and Rocket Design Lunar Missions and Technologies Declassified Space Program Information Space Propulsion and Rocket Engineering Cosmonaut Training and Space Suits Soviet Propaganda and Space Culture

The hottest Substack posts of Soviet Space Substack

And their main takeaways

Sever – The Bridge to Soyuz

79 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
  1. Sever was a proposal by Korolev for a crewed lunar mission using the R7 launcher due to a lack of a more powerful launcher at the time.
  2. The design elements of Sever included an upgraded Vostok style crew module, an engineering/utility module, and a train of five boosters for thrust.
  3. Sever was not seriously considered for long but had an influence on the next evolution of lunar missions known as Soyuz A-B-V, addressing issues with the crew module and improving the space train.

1987 Nuclear Mars Mission, using Energia

2 HN points • 15 Sep 23
  1. The 1987 proposal for a Mars mission required 5 Energia launches and featured a massive vehicle with a crew of 4 cosmonauts.
  2. The assembly of the Mars ship involved 5 launches of the Energia rocket for different modules and the Mars landing craft.
  3. The Mars mission included tasks like collecting soil samples, conducting geological and biological studies, as well as analyzing the atmosphere and climate of Mars.

Lunar Renderings

0 implied HN points • 04 May 19
  1. The author successfully rendered Lunar images in 3D early on
  2. The Moon's simple shape made modeling easy
  3. Adding a color channel texture and bump map enhanced the renderings

Modelling CGI rockets, part 2, worked example

0 implied HN points • 17 May 19
  1. Part 1 showed how to locate and work with references.
  2. Part 2 provides a worked example on modelling the Mercury Atlas rocket.
  3. The post includes tips for printing a portable version.

N-1 For the Moon & Mars, a second edition.

0 implied HN points • 27 May 20
  1. There will be a second edition of the book 'N-1 for the Moon and Mars'.
  2. A newsletter has been set up to keep people informed about the progress of the second edition.
  3. The announcement was made on Nick Stevens Graphics' website.
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The Cosmic Exploration Card Decks

0 implied HN points • 30 May 20
  1. The Cosmic Exploration Card Decks are a commercial project on Kickstarter featuring spacecraft models.
  2. Each card in the deck is detailed and accurate, ready for printing upon successful completion of the Kickstarter.
  3. The project is created by Nick Stevens Graphics and showcases different spacecraft designs.

Meanwhile, over at the Soviet Space Substack….

0 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
  1. The author is busy with paid work and researching obscure Soviet Space programs.
  2. The author has a Substack where they post articles on Soviet Space programs.
  3. Readers can find the Soviet Space Substack at graphicsnickstevens.substack.com.

Glushko vs Korolov – Propellants

0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 22
  1. Valenitin Petrovitch Glushko and Sergei Pavelovich Korolov were key figures in the Soviet space race.
  2. Glushko was the chief rocket engine designer while Korolov was the chief designer behind many Soviet space 'firsts.'
  3. Initially, Glushko and Korolov had a good relationship, but things changed over time.

The ten most beautiful rockets!

0 implied HN points • 11 Jul 20
  1. The list ranks the most beautiful rockets, based on the author's opinion.
  2. The Electron rocket from New Zealand is highlighted for its simple shape and unique paint job.
  3. The post includes a link to the full list of beautiful rockets.

Out of place astronauts

0 implied HN points • 30 May 20
  1. Artwork featuring astronauts in unexpected settings can be intriguing.
  2. Spacesuits and various backgrounds can be used creatively in creating art.
  3. Exploring the concept of out of place astronauts offers an interesting art theme.

A guide to modelling CGI rockets, part 1, references.

0 implied HN points • 31 Mar 19
  1. Modelling CGI rockets involves basic shapes like cylinders and cones.
  2. Creating CGI rockets can be straightforward and not too difficult.
  3. Consider writing a general guide on modelling CGI rockets for easier understanding.

A quick guide to getting good colour from old Earth photos

0 implied HN points • 10 Jul 19
  1. The post offers a guide to improving color in old Earth photos.
  2. Using Photoshop elements or other image editors can help enhance the colors.
  3. Adjusting for haze in the atmosphere can bring out the true colors of space shots.