Automated Measurement and Control Systems for Spacecrafts and Missile Launches in the USSR: The Pioneering Role of the Elite Engineering Corps of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute

The paper highlights certain important pages of computer science history that are virtually unknown not only to the general scientific community both in Russia and abroad, but to many computer and telecommunications specialists as well. Attention is brought to achievements of the team of scientists and engineers at the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute (LPI) attained in development of real-time computerized systems designed in mid-90th to support launching missiles and putting artificial Earth satellites in orbit. Discussed are problems related to early ballistic trajectories parameters' measurement and processing, which necessitated innovative design and construction of specialized digital computers of the Quartz and Temp series. Described is the subsequent invention of unique hardware that was based on original diodless ferrite logic elements (ferrite-ferrite logic) en mass assembled and packaged into compact shielded construction modules ("plates"). The variety of ready-made off-the-shelf plates has offered a wide range of complex functionality and has led to design of various extremely reliable automated control systems (ACS) that were extensively used both in the space research and the defense projects of the USSR. The key role of University research is emphasized and the progress stages of Professor Taras N. Sokolov's school of thought are mentioned. The relevant events in the period of confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the cold war and the space race are revealed. The text is accompanied by numerous links to serve as a guide to references given in bibliography.