Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, first printed scientific paper on the feasibility of a dirigible ‘A Controllable Metallic Balloon"Konstantin Tsiolkovsky became interested in aeronautics at a young age, but began systematic research in this field only in 1885. In his manuscript work ‘The theory and experience of a balloon with an elongated horizontal shape’ in 1886, the scientist presented the theoretical justification of the construction of a metallic balloon and proved the possibility of controlling it.
In 1887 Tsiolkovsky presented his project at the meeting of the Moscow ‘Society of Amateurs of Natural Science’. Later, the scientist recalled: ‘They treated me quite kindly and sympathetically’. Such reaction of listeners cheered Tsiolkovsky. After the presentation, he wrote several works in defense of his dirigible and sent them along with paper models to the Russian Physico-Chemical Society and the Imperial Russian Technical Society. However, they didn’t receive any support from scientists.
Later, in 1892, with the help of friends, Tsiolkovsky published his paper “A Controllable Metallic Balloon”. This was the first printed work by a scientist on theoretical justification of a dirigible. In his work, Tsiolkovsky described the design of a balloon made of corrugated metal, proved the ability of the apparatus to resist winds and substantiated the practical feasibility of dirigibles with variable volume.
The Aeronautical Department of the Imperial Russian Technical Society disputed the usefulness of a metal airship. Tsiolkovsky himself was described by its members as an amateur who should not carry out research in this field. The tone set by the critics has had its influence: practically nobody knew about his paper “A Controllable Metallic Balloon” in Russia.
The fact that his writings were deliberately silenced by the scientific community caused Tsiolkovsky to suffer. However, he continued to work and sought new ways to save his dirigible project.
The first attempt to realize the idea of Tsiolkovsky was made in 1931 by the combine “Dirizhablstroy”. The balloon, however, was never built “due to the low technological level of the enterprise”, but later the engineers were convinced that the theoretical assumptions of the scientist were absolutely true.
In 1887 Tsiolkovsky presented his project at the meeting of the Moscow ‘Society of Amateurs of Natural Science’. Later, the scientist recalled: ‘They treated me quite kindly and sympathetically’. Such reaction of listeners cheered Tsiolkovsky. After the presentation, he wrote several works in defense of his dirigible and sent them along with paper models to the Russian Physico-Chemical Society and the Imperial Russian Technical Society. However, they didn’t receive any support from scientists.
Later, in 1892, with the help of friends, Tsiolkovsky published his paper “A Controllable Metallic Balloon”. This was the first printed work by a scientist on theoretical justification of a dirigible. In his work, Tsiolkovsky described the design of a balloon made of corrugated metal, proved the ability of the apparatus to resist winds and substantiated the practical feasibility of dirigibles with variable volume.
The Aeronautical Department of the Imperial Russian Technical Society disputed the usefulness of a metal airship. Tsiolkovsky himself was described by its members as an amateur who should not carry out research in this field. The tone set by the critics has had its influence: practically nobody knew about his paper “A Controllable Metallic Balloon” in Russia.
The fact that his writings were deliberately silenced by the scientific community caused Tsiolkovsky to suffer. However, he continued to work and sought new ways to save his dirigible project.
The first attempt to realize the idea of Tsiolkovsky was made in 1931 by the combine “Dirizhablstroy”. The balloon, however, was never built “due to the low technological level of the enterprise”, but later the engineers were convinced that the theoretical assumptions of the scientist were absolutely true.
