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Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

tsee-ol-KOF-skee
Also Known As Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky

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A largely self-taught Russian schoolteacher and theorist regarded as one of the founding fathers of rocketry and astronautics. He derived the rocket equation relating a rocket's velocity to its exhaust speed and mass ratio, and wrote about multistage rockets and space stations decades before either was built.

Facts
Birth Date
1857-09-17 1
Birth Year
1857 2
Death Date
1935-09-19 1
Death Year
1935 2
Nationality
Russian 1
Defining Contribution
Derived the rocket equation and theorized multistage rockets and space stations 1
Notable Work
The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices (1903), the paper deriving the rocket equation 2
Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Tsiolkovsky derived the rocket equation governing orbital and escape velocity, the founding result of orbital mechanics as applied to spaceflight.

Tsiolkovsky derived and published the equation in 1903.

Sources
1. Encyclopedia Britannica: Space Exploration
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationKonstantin Tsiolkovsky, Wikipedia - infobox (born)
Quote, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Wikipedia - infobox (born)
17 September 1857
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationKonstantin Tsiolkovsky, Wikipedia - infobox (died)
Quote, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Wikipedia - infobox (died)
19 September 1935
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationKonstantin Tsiolkovsky, Wikipedia - infobox (full name)
Quote, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Wikipedia - infobox (full name)
Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationKonstantin Tsiolkovsky, Wikipedia - Scientific achievements section
Quote, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Wikipedia - Scientific achievements section
delta-v = ve ln(m0/mf)
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Orbital Mechanics, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, lead section
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation, Tsiolkovsky rocket equation, History section
Quote, Associated With: Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation, Tsiolkovsky rocket equation, History section
usually credited to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who derived and published the formula in 1903
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