Viktor Vasilyevich Grachev
| Viktor Vasilyevich Grachev | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Виктор Васильевич Грачёв |
| Born | March 16, 1923 Misaylovo, Podolsky Uyezd, Moscow Governorate, Soviet Union |
| 💀Died | February 6, 1996 (aged 72) Dnepropetrovsk, UkraineFebruary 6, 1996 (aged 72) |
| 🏫 Education | Bauman Moscow State Technical University (1951) |
| 💼 Occupation | Rocket scientist, engineer |
| Known for | Deputy Chief Designer of Yuzhnoye Design Office, testing of strategic missile systems |
| 🏅 Awards | Template:Hero of Socialist Labour  Template:Order of the October Revolution  |
Viktor Vasilyevich Grachev (Russian: Виктор Васильевич Грачёв; 16 March 1923 – 6 February 1996) was a Soviet engineer and rocket scientist who served as a leading figure in the development of Soviet missile technology. He was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labour and was a recipient of the Lenin Prize.
Life and career
Grachev was born on 16 March 1923 in the village of Misaylovo, located in the Leninsky District of the Moscow Oblast. He was born into a peasant family.
After graduating from high school in 1940, he enrolled in the Moscow Mechanical Engineering Institute. Following the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, he was drafted into the Red Army and sent to the Gomel Military Aviation Aerophotogrammetric School, which had been evacuated to Davlekanovo, Bashkir ASSR.
Upon graduation in May 1942, he was deployed to the Arctic front. He served as a senior dispatcher for the 122nd Fighter Aviation Division of the PVO. For his wartime service, he was decorated with the Order of the Red Star, the Medal "For Battle Merit", and the Medal "For the Defence of the Soviet Transarctic".
Demobilized in 1945, Grachev continued his education at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, graduating in 1951. He was subsequently assigned to work as a design engineer at Plant No. 586 in Dnepropetrovsk (now Dnipro, Ukraine).
After a brief period serving as an instructor for the machine-building department of the regional committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine (1952–1953), he returned to the plant as a senior engineer. In 1954, the Special Design Bureau No. 586 (now Yuzhnoye Design Office) was established. From May 1955, Grachev served as the lead designer for the R-12, the first mass-produced Soviet medium-range ballistic missile.
In 1959, he was appointed Deputy Chief Designer under Mikhail Yangel, specifically overseeing testing operations. He played a key role in the development and testing of numerous strategic missile systems.
On 17 June 1961, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, Grachev was granted the title of Hero of Socialist Labour for his outstanding contributions to the creation of rocket technology and for ensuring the success of the first human flight into space.
From 1962 onwards, he served as Deputy Chief Designer and Head of the Testing Complex. During his career, he led the testing of 19 different missile complexes.
Later life and death
Grachev retired in 1991. He lived in Dnepropetrovsk until his death on 6 February 1996.
Awards and honors
- Hero of Socialist Labour (1961)
- Two Orders of Lenin
- Order of the October Revolution
- Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class
- Order of the Red Star
- Medal "For Battle Merit"
- Lenin Prize (1967)
- USSR State Prize (1977)
References
- Chief Missile Tester of the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau." Edited by A. V. Agarkov, Deputy General Designer for Testing and Operations and Head of the Testing Complex at the M. K. Yangel Yuzhnoye State Design Office
- Viktor Grachev at the "Heroes of the Country" website (in Russian).
External links
References
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