“Myths and Counter-Myths of Soviet Space”

A lecture by historian Slava Gerovitch

How did the Soviet space propaganda machine really work?
Who decided whether a cosmonaut or automation would control the spacecraft?
What were the true causes behind the triumphs and failures of the Soviet space program?

We’ll explore the rivalry between cosmonauts and engineers, the gap between media image and professional reality, and the deeper mechanisms of collective memory.

This lecture includes a presentation of Slava Gerovitch’s book “Soviet Space Mythologies”, based on archival research and interviews with cosmonauts and engineers.
The book was awarded the Best Original Contribution in Aerospace Literature by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.