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[TSIOLKOVSKY] Tiazhest’ ischezla [i.e. Weight Has Gone]

Tsiolkovsky, K.

Item #2073

Moscow: Gosmashmetizdat, 1934. 110, [2] pp., 1 folding scheme, 1 ill. 20x14,5 cm.

In modern half leather with marbled covers. Good. Title page and last leaf repaired with corner of table of contents and corner fragment of ink note on t.p. lost, some other leaves repaired without loss. Lifetime edition of one of the earliest works re-printed during the active involvement of the scientist in Soviet projects.

Originally, the text was a series of science fiction essays published with the title “Dreams of the Earth and Sky and the Effects of Universal Gravity” in 1895. The author, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935) is one of the founding fathers of space science, well-known for his astronautic theory. His research allowed rocket scientists after him to perform space travel. But as important as his scientific works are his cosmist beliefs in the ability of intergalactic travels and inhabiting other planets. That altogether makes Konstantin Tsiolkovsky one of the most unorthodox and advanced scientists of his time. In the early 1930s, Tsiolkovsky actively collaborated with official projects of Soviet airship construction. In particular, he was a scientific consultant to the enterprise Dirizhablestroy located near Moscow
where he worked together with the invitee Umberto Nobile.
The State Publishing House on Mechanical Engineering, Metalworking and Ferrous Metallurgy firstly published the work in 1933. The foreword is written by astronomer and expert in celestial mechanics Nikolai Moiseev (1902-1955). Professor Moiseev explained the Soviet reprint of the work: “The historical value of this
fantasy is indisputable, but since interplanetary flights haven’t yet been carried out, behind any scientifically healthy fantasy on the topic of astronomy there still remains the value of propaganda literature on one of the most fascinating technical issues that captures the imagination of mankind. Together with Moiseev’s
foreword, in which he analyzes this and other works on space voyages, Tsiolkovsky’s essays received the proper frame.
The book begins with a brief description of the planetary system as an introduction to the range of issues that follow. What follows is the first fantasy: “What would happen on Earth if it stopped attracting bodies located on its surface?” [and also stopped rotating around an axis, but still holds the air]. The next part tells about a man who meets inhabitants of asteroids. The natives explore interplanetary space, build multi-story trains on large asteroids to lift themselves off the planet before flying. Later, Tsiolkovsky revised this early theory about rocket trains.
In all, an interesting return to print of a less recognizable work. The following year Tsiolkovsky died, due to stomach cancer.

Worldcat doesn't track this edition.

Price: $1,250.00

Status: On Hold