Vladimir Pavlovich Barmin
Vladimir Pavlovich Barmin was an outstanding Soviet scientist in the field of mechanics and rocket engineering. Hero of Socialist Labor (1956). Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1966). Laureate of the Lenin (1957) Prize, Stalin (1943) and two State Prizes (1967, 1977) of the USSR. Professor MVTU (1960). He graduated from the Moscow Higher Technical School (1930). Since 1931 he taught at the Moscow Higher Technical University. Since 1941 - chief and chief designer of the design bureau.
Since 1946 Barmin was the chief, then the general designer of the state design bureau of the special. machine building (GSKB Spetsmash, since 1967 - KB general mechanical engineering) of the Ministry of General Mechanical Engineering of the USSR to develop rocket and space launch complexes, organized on the basis of the SKB "Compressor". Beginning in 1947, under the leadership of Barmin, reliable mobile and stationary launching complexes for the preparation and launch of ballistic missiles R-1, P-2 (1948-52), R-11, R-5 and P-5M (1954- 56). At the same time, work was begun in his design bureau to solve the problem of launching missiles from mines. The Mayak silo launcher (1960) designed for this purpose made it possible to conduct a series of scientific research trials, as a result of which, in the period 1958-63, a large group of silos were designed.
In the post-war years, the State Union Design Bureau of Special Machine Building under the leadership of Barmin became the head developer of the ground technological equipment of the Republic of Kazakhstan, ground and mine PU. Since 1963 GSKB took part in the development of the launch complex of a new generation of the "OS" type with the UR-100 missile. He is the author of many scientific works on launching complexes of modern missiles, issues of compressor construction, refrigeration, etc. Under his direct supervision, the first launching complexes, which have no analogues in the world practice for rocket and space systems, have been developed, and a unique technological equipment for these complexes has been created. One of the pioneers of rocket education. From February 1, 1946 to August 25, 1947 he was a teacher at the country's first department of jet weapons. He was awarded 7 orders. He died on July 17, 1993.
Already in his school years Barmin showed himself as a clever and inquisitive boy. Therefore, in 1926, having successfully completed both stages of the school and seeking higher technical education, he applies for admission to three institutions at once. He successfully passes the exams in two of them - to the mechanical faculty of the Moscow Mechanics and Machine Building Institute (later MVTU named after Bauman) and to the Lomonosov Institute (the Moscow Mechanical Institute named after Lomonosov, the predecessor of the Moscow Automotive Institute, now the Moscow State Machine-Building University).
In the first semester he attends lectures in both institutes. As he succeeded, history is silent. But Barmin used this time to finally determine his further engineering specialization. From the second semester, he becomes a student only "Baumanka". In 1930 he brilliantly defended his thesis on the topic "Perm City Refrigerator", becoming a mechanical engineer for refrigeration machines and apparatus.
In those years, after graduating from higher education institutions, young specialists were given certificates of completion of studies at the institute instead of diplomas. With such a certificate, Barmin was sent to the Moscow plant "Kotloapparat", which was engaged in the production of refrigeration equipment. In 1931, the factory, which was producing bulky, low-productivity horizontal compressors for refrigeration equipment, was renamed Compressor.
Starting his work biography at the plant as a design engineer, Barmin immediately joined the KB's activities. His first job was to design a new, modern vertical compressor. Youth, knowledge, ability to work with people allowed the young engineer to complete the design in a record short time (in just six months), to issue working drawings, to make and test the new compressor VP-230 at the factory. The plant began the transition from the production of low-speed ammonia horizontal to new high-speed vertical compressors.
Subsequently, having already become the Chief Designer of launching complexes for ballistic missiles, Vladimir Pavlovich with pleasure recalled this his first design victory. In many ways thanks to this work, he was able to reach those heights that forever inscribed his name in the history of space exploration.
Within two years the factory management, satisfied with the successes of the young engineer, instructed him to lead the compressor group of the design bureau. In the 1930s, under his leadership, a number of powerful air compressors of the VG series for the coal industry were developed, the first domestic brake compressor TV-130 for electric locomotives, the first domestic vertical carbon dioxide compressor UV-70/2 for marine vessels, the carbon dioxide compressor UG-160 for refrigeration installation of the Lenin Mausoleum and a mobile high-pressure compressor AK-50/150 for aviation.
As those who happened to work with Vladimir Pavlovich remember, even then the main features of his character began to appear. He was normal, no offense, he took comments and criticism, he made the necessary conclusions for himself. In the first place, Barmin always had a job.
At the end of 1935, Barmin, as part of a group of specialists from Glavmashprom, was sent to the United States to study the production and operation of compressors and refrigeration equipment. In addition to the general task, Vladimir Pavlovich received two personal assignments from the People's Commissar of Heavy Industry, Sergo Ordzhonikidze. One of them concerned the study of the production of domestic refrigerators, which abroad began to be widely used in everyday life. And Barmin had to sort out the "ticklish" question on the second assignment: how Americans make transparent ice. In the Soviet Union, artificial manufacture it at that time (and many years later) turned out only cloudy.
In May 1936 the delegation returned to Moscow, and on the results of the trip Barmin presented an extensive report. It detailed the state of the production of refrigeration equipment in the US, the advantages and disadvantages of manufactured compressors in various plants, and also gives recommendations on what products it is appropriate to purchase. It also proposed the development of domestic compressor construction and refrigeration engineering.
Largely thanks to the information that Barmin brought from America, the refrigerators entered our everyday life. Under his supervision, the first domestic freon refrigerating machines 1FV, 2FV and 4FV are being developed, and the first domestic experimental direct-acting diesel-compressor is being created.
In late 1940, he was appointed chief designer of the plant "Compressor". Those innovations that Barmin saw during his business trip to America, form his views on the further development of compressor and refrigeration equipment in our country. However, the big plans of the young chief were not destined to come true - the Great Patriotic War began, which fundamentally changed the scientific and production work of the young designer.
The radical changes were influenced by the decision taken by the government of our country literally the day before the outbreak of the war, on June 21, 1941. Then, a resolution was signed on the deployment of serial production of rockets PC-132 (or M-13), launchers for them and the beginning of the formation of specialized military units for their use. On the ninth day of the war, the director of the Compressor plant and Barmin, as the chief designer, were summoned to the People's Commissar of General Engineering Petr Parshin, where they were tasked to completely rebuild the plant, switching it to mass production of a new type of weapons, future legendary Katyushas.
In fact, it was from this moment on that Barmin began to engage in launching complexes, first for the reactive, and then - missile armament. And although it happened forcedly, Vladimir Pavlovich never regretted that fate decreed so, and not otherwise. Probably, he would have become a significant figure in the field of the refrigeration industry. But it is unlikely that his biography would be of interest to anyone, except a narrow circle of specialists and historians. But the life and activities of the Barmin-Rocketeer are interesting to many.
Simultaneously with the order of the People's Commissar on the re-profiling of the Compressor plant, a special design bureau (SKB) was created. Andrei Kostikov was appointed the chief designer of the development of reactive weapons, who was also the chief and chief designer of NII-3 (former RNII). Head of the SKB and deputy chief designer was appointed Vladimir Barmin.
The launchers, created in the workshops of the RNII, were carried out at an artisanal level and could not be adopted in this way for serial production. It required the constructive processing of many units of the installation, which makes it possible to use other technologies for mass production. For example, welded or cast structural elements, used serially produced components and so on. This work was deployed by Barmin in the SKB.
At the same time, the first friction between Kostikov and Barmin arose, which in another situation could have ended very sadly for Vladimir Pavlovich. If not for his rightness in the decisions taken. And the need for what he was doing for the country.
And the essence of the conflict was as follows. Kostikov, who does not have the knowledge and experience of working in factories, was met with hostility by any changes proposed by the staff of the SKB. Moreover, Barmin's perseverance at some point began to irritate the chief designer. And when Barmin, after consulting with the developers of the missile and coordination with the responsible representative of the People's Commissar supervising the work, independently decided to launch the revised drawings into production at the Compressor, Kostikov wrote a letter to the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the CPSU (B) with the demand to remove his deputy.
As a result, Kostikov, the secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b), Georgiy Malenkov, was removed from further management of the work of the SKB and was instructed to concentrate his work in NII-3. Barmin was appointed chief designer of the SKB at the Compressor plant.
For Vladimir Pavlovich and the team of the newly created design bureau, tense days began. With round-the-clock operation in the shortest possible time, design and technological processing of the documentation of the combat installation was carried out. Already on July 23, 1941, the Compressor plant, according to the SKB drawings, manufactured and sent to the testing ground the first combat unit under the BM-13-16 index. After the successful completion of the tests, this combat vehicle was adopted in August 1941, and the blueprints developed in the SKB were approved for serial production. By the beginning of December 1941, 415 such units were in service in the military units located near Moscow. At a time when the enemy was on the outskirts of Moscow.
At the end of the summer of 1941, another important task was set before Barmin: in the shortest possible time, to construct two types of armored trains armed with M-13 and M-8 rockets. Despite the seemingly insurmountable difficulties, the work was carried out, and in November 1941 armored trains were withdrawn to the Moscow roundabout railway and played an important role in the defense of the capital.
Later, under the leadership of Barmin, a number of launchers were created, including the improved BM-13N combat vehicle, which became the main multiply-launcher of the Red Army until the end of the Great Patriotic War.
In total, during the war years, under the direction of Barmin, 78 types of experimental and experimental structures of launchers BM-13, BM-8, BM-8-36, BM-8-48, BM-31-12 and others were developed and manufactured, of which 36 types were in service. These installations were installed on all the vessels of land and water vehicles capable of transporting them, including on railway platforms, sea and river boats, sleighs and skis. By the end of the war on all fronts, about 3000 reactive installations were involved.
The leadership of the country highly appreciated the work of the SKB at the Compressor plant.
Many of his employees were awarded orders and medals. The merits of Vladimir Pavlovich Barmin were awarded the Order of Lenin, Kutuzov I degree, the Red Banner of Labor, medals "For the Defense of Moscow" and "For the Liberation of Warsaw", he was awarded the title of laureate of the Stalin Prize 1st Class.
The experience that Barmin acquired during his work in the SKB at the Compressor plant was extremely necessary at a time when it became necessary to become familiar with the "rocket heritage" of the fascists. Immediately after Germany's surrender, the USSR's top leadership decided to send several groups of Soviet specialists to the Soviet occupation zone to study this equipment and its means of production. Among them was Barmin, who received the military rank of colonel on this occasion.
When the scale of the work that was to be accomplished became clear, it was decided to set up a number of institutions in the occupied territory, where it was supposed to gather specialists from the USSR and German missileists who were ready to cooperate with the new authorities. The technical director of one of these institutions, called "Berlin", was Barmin. Under his leadership, specialists were engaged in the search for and restoration of technical documentation and ready-made samples of ground-based equipment of German V-2, Vasserfel, Shmeterling and others.
In Germany, Barmin met Sergey Korolev, Valentin Glushko, Nikolai Pilyugin and other future rocket manufacturers in our country. There they first began to interact. This seemingly temporary, cooperation developed over many years and produced results that were striking in their historical consequences.
May 13, 1946, the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR was issued, which set the task of creating rocket weapons in the country, identified the main executing organizations and appointed their leaders. SKB at the plant "Compressor" was transformed into the State Union Design Bureau of Special Machine Building (GSKB "Spetsmash", since the mid-1960s - the Design Bureau of General Mechanical Engineering, KBOM), it has become the leading in the country to create a launching, handling, refueling and auxiliary ground equipment of missile systems. Barmin, as the chief and chief designer of GSKB "Spetsmash", became one of the members of the Council of Chief Designers headed by Korolyov.
The prototype of the first domestic missile complex R-1 was the German "Vau-2", recreated in our country, taking into account the changing climatic conditions of exploitation and the country's industrial capabilities. This work, in addition to fulfilling the main task, simultaneously became the first stage in the development of new technology by industrial enterprises and the acquisition of experience in the operation of this equipment by parts of the Soviet Army.
Almost simultaneously with the work on the building of ground equipment and the starting position for the R-1 rocket, work was begun to create ground-based equipment for the R-2 missile. In 1951, the bureau led by Barmin successfully coped with the work on creating launch complexes for the S-25 missile-zenith system with B-300 surface-to-air missiles. After carrying out the polygon and flight tests of the R-1 in 1950 and the P-2 in late 1951 as part of the missile system, they were adopted by the Soviet Army.
Since 1947 under the leadership of Barmin, launch complexes for R-11, R-5, R-5M missiles - the first domestic missile with a nuclear warhead have been developed. For this work, Vladimir Pavlovich was awarded the Order of Lenin and awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
In parallel, the KB of the Barmin continued work on the creation of military launcher launchers - hereditary Katyushas. Ten combat vehicles were developed, four of which were used in the post-war period. From this topic Barmin "got rid" only in 1956, when the volume of work on the missile theme became so great that there was no time left for other work of the time and forces.
In 1957, work was completed on the launch complex of the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile R-7. For fulfilling this important government task, Barmin became a laureate of the Lenin Prize among other major designers. Subsequently, on the basis of the Seven, a whole family of space launch vehicles was created: Sputnik, Luna, Vostok, Molniya, Voskhod, Soyuz. With their help, the world's first artificial Earth satellite, the first lunettes, the first automatic interplanetary stations to Venus and Mars, the first man, were launched into space ...
The State Commission for launching the second artificial Earth satellite included G.R. Udarov, I.T. Bulychev, A. G. Mrykin, M. V. Keldysh, S. P. Korolev (technical manager), V. M. Ryabikov (chairman of the commission), MI Nedelin, GN Pashkov, VP Glushko, VP Barmin, MS Ryazanskii, KN Rudnev, N. A Pilyugin, SM Vladimirsky, VI Kuznetsov. Baikonur, 1957
In the 1960s and 1980s, Barmin participated in the creation of both combat missile systems and launch sites for space vehicles. With his participation, the mine launch complexes for the R-12, R-14, R-9A, and UR-100 missiles were created. Under his leadership, launch complexes for Proton carrier rockets and the reusable space system Energia-Buran were developed.
There is in the luggage of the designer Barmin and other works that have remained in the annals of the exploration of outer space. One of them is the creation of automatic installations for working in the conditions of the planets of the solar system and the production of inorganic materials and biologically active substances in space. For the study of the surface of the Moon and Venus, soil-intake devices (GZU) were constructed in the Barmin Design Bureau. With the help of one of these devices (GZU LB-09), a sample of lunar soil was taken from a depth of about 2.5 meters without disturbance of the order of occurrence of rocks and it was delivered to Earth (1976).
But perhaps the most brilliant work of Barmin was for the first time in the world a detailed project of a long-lived habitable base on the Moon. In the literature it is often called "Barminger", although in official documents it passes under the designation "DLB" (Long-term lunar base), and in OKB-1 (the customer of the works was the team of the design bureau headed by Korolev) he was known as "Zvezda".
It was assumed that the location for the future base would be selected using automatic devices. From the orbiting moon of the moon, mapping of the site will be made, then the unmanned station will take soil samples and deliver them to Earth, after which the area of future construction will be inspected by the moon rovers. At the end of the remote study of the proposed territory of the base, an expedition of four people was to go to the moon on the "lunar train".
"Lunar train" was intended for the construction of a temporary town, and upon its completion - for "traveling" around the neighborhood. It was supposed to include a tractor, a residential trailer, an isotope power plant with a capacity of 10 kW and a drilling rig. The chassis of all these machines was like that of the Lunokhod: each wheel had its own electric motor, so that the failure of one or even several of the 22 motors did not paralyze the general move. For meteoric, thermal and ultraviolet protection of inhabited premises of the train, a three-layered body was developed.
The total weight of the "lunar train" is 8 tons. The main task of the crew was to be geological research: first - to select sites for the town and the cosmodrome, then - to solve scientific issues. For the convenience of work, soil samples could be collected by manipulators, without reaching the surface.
"Lunar city" was supposed to be built from nine modules, each of which had its own purpose - laboratory, warehouse, residential and others. The length of each block is 8.6 meters, diameter is 3.3 meters, total weight is 18 tons. The population of the "lunar city" is 12 people. At the plant, the unit was to be made shorter, in the form of a metal accordion 4.5 meters long - for the dimensions of the transport ship. On the Moon, on the construction site, the air had to be supplied to the accordion under pressure, the structure disbanded, and the block grew to 8.6 meters.
A prototype of one of these blocks was used in 1967 during an experiment on the one-year stay of a group of researchers in a closed environment, held at the Institute of Biomedical Problems.
The program "Star" was considered as a continuation of the Soviet manned Lunar program. Therefore, when specialists failed to get ahead of the Americans in the lunar race and the program was closed, the work on Barmringrad was canceled.
Until the early 1990s, the program was stored in archives under the label "top secret." The very fact of its existence was rejected. However, like all other projects to send a Soviet man to the moon. And only in modern Russia to tell the general public about the "lunar city" was "allowed".
In addition to his work, Vladimir Pavlovich paid much attention to scientific and pedagogical activity. Since 1931 he taught at the Bauman Moscow City Technical University, since 1934 he supervised course and diploma projects carried out by students, in 1938 he developed and read the course "Calculation and design of reciprocating compressors." And in 1959 he created the department "Start-up missile complexes" in this university and headed it for 30 years.
In the early 1970s, out of the two and a half thousand people who were working at Barmin's KBOM at that time, about 800 employees were graduates of this department.
He was the author of numerous scientific works devoted to the development of the fundamentals of high pressure and low temperature engineering, as well as the foundations for constructing complex machine building complexes; research of electric drives, compressor and refrigeration units; the creation of rocket-space and combat launch complexes. In 1957, Barmin was elected a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (since 1992 - the Russian Academy of Sciences), and in 1966 he became a full member of the Academy.
Vladimir Pavlovich was an honorary president of the Tsiolkovsky Academy of Cosmonautics, a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics, an honorary president of the International Association of Scientists, Engineers and Inventors of Thomas Edison.
Until the last days Barmin lived in Moscow. He died on July 17, 1993. Buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery. His name is the asteroid of the main belt (22254) Vladbarmin. In the city of Baikonur there is a street of Academician Barmin. In 1999, at the intersection of the streets of Barmin and Abai, a memorial plaque was opened, and in 2001 a square was erected on this place where a monument was erected. A stele with a commemorative plaque was moved to the intersection of the streets of Barmin and Gagarin.
After the death of Vladimir Pavlovich, his son continued his work - Igor, who headed the KBOM. He was very much like his father. Not only externally, but also the attitude towards the cause, served and served by the Barmins.
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