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Home , Aerobee, Alexei Leonov, Laika, Sergei Korolev, Soviet space program, Sputnik 1

Dear Delegates,

It’s my pleasure to welcome you all to the twenty-sixth annual UGA Model Conference, UGAMUNC XXVI. We hope that your experience at this conference will teach you a little bit more about the time period of this committee, different tactics of negotiation, or even just a little more about yourselves! In the Race to the Crisis Committee at UGAMUNC, you’ll be experiencing things a bit differently than your fellow high school delegates.

Before we explain further, I would like to introduce myself, as well as my chair and co-chair. My name is Meredith Van De Velde ([email protected]), and I am a third-year ​ ​ Computer Science and International Affairs double major at UGA. I hope to work at a major tech company in cybersecurity after graduation. I have been involved in Model UN for seven years, both in high school and in college. I currently serve as the Secretary General of the UGA Model United Nations team, which is essentially the team’s president. Although I keep a busy schedule, in my free time, I enjoy trying out new recipes and listening to all of the fantastic live music Athens has to offer.

Your chair for the weekend will be Garrett Williams ([email protected]). He is a ​ ​ second-year with majors in Economics and Finance and a minor in Communication Studies. As an avid speech & debate and Model UN competitor in high school, he loves public speaking and is absolutely jazzed to be chairing a committee for the first time. He serves on secretariat as the team’s Finance Director. In his free time, he enjoys contemplating his lack of self discipline and work ethic while watching YouTube videos for several hours at a time. He used to be able to do a cartwheel.

Your co-chair for the weekend will be Miranda Bourdeau ([email protected]). She ​ ​ is a third-year International Affairs, Political Science, and Economics triple major. Miranda has been involved in Model UN for three years, with two of those years being on the UGA team. Outside of Model UN, Miranda loves being a member of Phi Kappa Literary society. In her (very little) free time, you can find Miranda planning another trip she can’t afford, watching the Great British Baking Show, or playing various Mario games with her friends. She can still do a cartwheel.

We know that you’ll all do a fantastic job bringing your role to life in conference. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. From now until UGAMUNC, start delving deeper into your character and building your crisis arc. We can’t wait to see you all in action.

Once again, welcome to UGAMUNC XXVI!

Sincerely, Meredith Van De Velde Crisis Director, Race to the Moon

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Starting Scenario: December 6th, 1957, Office ​

Historically heralded as a leader in science and technology, the of America has suffered a debilitating blow in the . The US’s first attempt at launching a into space, TV-3, has just failed on a live broadcast with viewers all over the country. For the first time in a long time, the superpower has experienced global humiliation and appears (mostly) mortal. With the success of 1, coupled with the current disarray of the US space program, the possibility of reaching the moon has never appeared closer for the . For years, you have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of your space program and the time to take down the Americans is now. The group of Russian engineers and scientists in this committee are the most prepared to take on this mission. Although you each know that the Americans will not go down without a fight, you are more than ready to emerge with your feet firmly planted on the moon.

But the path isn’t as simple as it looks. The Americans are moving quickly with new innovations on the horizon, including satellite technology, space travel for living beings, and possibly even an investigation into lunar missions. To add to tensions, there is simply no telling whether this posturing of newfangled technologies will only be used for space travel, or if it can be repurposed into missiles or even nuclear weaponry. And that’s just the Americans. Soviet design bureaus are also in constant competition for bids for the next great technology. It’s up to you and your colleagues to maintain your position as an elite designer at the best possible bureau in order to remain relevant to the race.

Your goal in this committee is to increase your overall social standing to become the most influential or successful individual involved in the budding , by whatever means necessary. Because who you know is everything, this may involve working with other committee delegates to take down those competing design bureaus, or perhaps to work with the Americans on any underhanded deals you might make. You’ll also have to take into account other societal problems of the era, from the Cold War tensions between the US and the USSR to the possibilities of nuclear development. Taking all these factors into account, it’s up to you to come out on top.

The format of this committee may lead you to believe that the most important aspect is your “behind-the-scenes” work as a character through crisis. However, the best delegates in a crisis committee find the balance between work writing directives that act as policy in response to crisis updates presented to the committee and work involving crisis notes that further your character’s short and long-term goals in committee.

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Background of Committee

Sputnik and Vanguard:

The Sputnik satellite program under the Soviet Union catalyzed the international space race. , the first satellite launched by man, was launched on October 4, 1957. This satellite remained in until early 1958, and was followed by nine other Sputnik-series that varied in orbit duration, size, and purpose.1 One particularly notable Sputnik mission was , which carried the first living being, a named , into .2 The ​ successful launch of Sputnik 1 shocked many around the world for a multitude of reasons.3 First, the technology for such an innovation as space travel had only ever been dreamt of up until that point. Second, the project was kept entirely out of the public view; even the official Soviet news agency, Tass, didn’t ​ announce the launch until the next day.4

Many had doubted the soundness of the invention by the Soviet Union, from the sophistication of the satellite to the safety of the launch. Some people feared that a world power ​ capable of blasting an object into space might also launch missiles against foreign targets. Others believed the satellite ushered in an exciting new era in human history. Sputnik 1 captured the popular imagination with its interactive capabilities. radio operators anywhere on Earth could dial in Sputnik’s distinctive beeping sound as it orbited. With a bit of assistance from field glasses, casual viewers could see the satellite as it passed overhead. In fact, a New York Times article of the period reported local sales of binoculars and telescopes rose 50 to 75 percent in the days following the satellite’s launch. Sputnik 1 remained in orbit until January 4, 1958, when it burned up on reentering Earth's atmosphere. Ultimately, the launch of the first

1 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Sputnik.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., ​ October 22, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/technology/Sputnik. ​ ​ 2 “Heroes of Space: Laika the Space Dog: Space Facts – Astronomy, the & Outer Space: All About ​ Space Magazine.” Space Facts Astronomy the Solar System Outer Space All About Space Magazine. Accessed October 22, 2019. https://www.spaceanswers.com/space-exploration/heroes-of-space-laika-the-space-dog/. ​ ​ 3 National Geographic Society. “USSR Launches Sputnik.” National Geographic Society, November 4, 2013. ​ https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/oct4/ussr-launches-sputnik/. ​ 4 Hanes, Elizabeth. “From Sputnik to Spacewalking: 7 Soviet Space Firsts.” History.com. A&E Television ​ Networks, October 4, 2012. https://www.history.com/news/from-sputnik-to-spacewalking-7-soviet-space-firsts. ​ ​

3 UGAMUNC XXVI - Race to the Moon artificial satellite spurred many countries, including the United States, to pursue space initiatives that continue to this day.5

Not to be outdone, the United States military quickly followed up the success of the first Sputnik mission with one of their own: Vanguard Test Vehicle (or TV-3 for short). represented the United States’ commitment to place a satellite into orbit as part of International Geophysical Year (IGY).6 The was launched on December 6, 1957, only to immediately malfunction. At the launch site in Cape Canaveral, , the TV-3’s booster ignited and began to rise, but about 2 seconds after liftoff, after rising about a meter, the rocket lost thrust and began to fall back down to the . As it settled, the fuel tanks ruptured and exploded, destroying the rocket as well as the launch pad. The Vanguard satellite was thrust far from the launch pad as a result of the explosion7 and landed on the ground a short distance away with its transmitters still sending out a beacon signal. After the satellite was damaged, however, it could not be reused. The exact cause of the accident was never determined, presumably it was due to a fuel leak between the fuel tank and the rocket engine, possibly due to a loose connection in a fuel line or low fuel pump inlet pressure allowing some of the burning fuel in the thrust chamber to leak back into the fuel tank.8

The Soviet Space Program:

The history of 's space efforts starts with World War II. At the end of the conflict, ​ German and rocket parts were captured by both the US and the Soviet Union. Both countries had dabbled in rocket science before that, but neither had found the time or infrastructure necessary to fully map out a program.9 In the Soviet Union, engineer was the leader in the field of engineering. When Stalin found himself in need of aeronautical engineers as World War II began, Korolev’s name was put forward. In 1945, he was put in charge of designing a Soviet equivalent of the V2 rocket. The result was the first

5 Ibid. ​ 6 “Satellite, Vanguard TV 3.” National Air and Space Museum, October 19, 2019. ​ https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/satellite-vanguard-tv-3. ​ 7 Ferreira, Becky. “Watch the Spectacular Inferno of America's First Satellite Attempt.” Vice, December 6, 2015. ​ https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mg7j4q/watch-the-spectacular-inferno-of-americas-first-satellite-attempt. ​ 8 https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=VAGT3 ​ 9 Petersen, Carolyn Collins. “The Story of Soviet and Russian .” ThoughtCo. ThoughtCo, July 3, ​ 2019. https://www.thoughtco.com/soviet-space-program-history-4140631. ​ ​

4 UGAMUNC XXVI - Race to the Moon intercontinental (ICBM), known as the R7 Semyorka.10 Korolev's other work was put into a design bureau, the first of many that worked on Korolev's technology once he had developed it.11

The Soviet space program was predicated somewhat on intense competition between bureaus from across the state controlled design agency. Rivalry between ​ those bureaus and their heads, who were known as chief designers, was a constant reality and posed an obstacle to a coherent Soviet space program. decisions were made by the of the Central Committee of the Communist Party as well as the Soviet government’s Council of Ministers. 12 Some of the most notable design bureaus are Energia, MiG, Sukhoy, and Tupolev, all of which still exist today.

Energia was founded in , a suburb of Moscow, by a May 1946 decree that established the Soviet Union’s missile and space programs and was primarily led by Korolev. Over the next decade his design bureau was responsible for establishing the USSR’s commanding early lead in the space race with the United States. Today it serves as the primary contractor for the International .13 MiG was founded in Moscow at around the same time, and during the Cold War, it developed some of the USSR’s most notable high-speed jet fighters.14 Sukhoy, also headquartered in Moscow, is the country’s aerospace design bureau heralded as the second most important producer of jet fighters after MiG.15 Lastly, as a Soviet agency also headquartered in Moscow, Tupolev developed the USSR’s first commercial jetliner and the world’s first supersonic passenger jet.16

After 1965 the government’s Ministry of General Machine Building was assigned responsibility for managing all Soviet space and missile programs; the Ministry of Defense was

10 “1957: R-7 Semyorka: Soviet Missile Which Could Destroy Cities on Other Continents.” History.info, August 1, ​ 2019. https://history.info/on-this-day/1957-r-7-semyorka-soviet-missile-which-could-destroy-cities-on-other-continents/. ​ 11 Howell, Elizabeth. “Sergei Korolev: Architect of Soviet Space Program.” Space.com. Space, October 15, 2016. ​ https://www.space.com/34396-korolev-biography.html. ​ 12 Logsdon, John M. “United States.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., September 18, 2019. ​ https://www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration/United-States. ​ 13 Siddiqi, Asif A. “Energia.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., August 9, 2016. ​ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Energia-Russian-company. ​ 14 Siddiqi, Asif A. “MiG.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., February 2, 2018. ​ https://www.britannica.com/topic/MiG-Russian-design-bureau. ​ 15 Siddiqi, Asif A. “Sukhoy.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., March 22, 2018. ​ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sukhoy. ​ 16 Siddiqi, Asif A. “Tupolev.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., January 12, 2015. ​ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tupolev. ​

5 UGAMUNC XXVI - Race to the Moon also quite influential in shaping space efforts. A separate military branch, the Strategic Missile Forces, was in charge of space launchers and strategic missiles. Various institutes of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, particularly the Institute for (IKI), proposed and managed scientific missions.17 It was only after the dissolution of the USSR that Russia created a civilian organization for space activities. Formed in February 1992, the Russian Federal Space Agency () has acted as a central focus for the country’s space policy and programs.18

The US Space Program:

In the early scientists began planning a coordinated international investigation of ​ Earth, to be called the International Geophysical Year, or IGY, that would be held in 1957–58 under the auspices of the International Council of Scientific Unions. By this time, progress in rocket development had advanced such that orbiting of an artificial Earth satellite by 1957 seemed feasible. At the urging of American scientists, IGY planners in 1954 called for scientifically instrumented satellites to be launched as part of IGY activities. Soon thereafter, the governments of the Soviet Union and the United States each announced plans to do so.19 Because the Soviet Union was a closed society, US leaders gave high priority to developing technology that could help gather intelligence on military preparations within the Soviet borders. As orbiting satellites neared realization, the US Air Force began work on a project which focused on attaching cameras to a satellite that would fly above Soviet territory. A major reason the US government had committed itself to the IGY satellite program was that it wanted to establish the principle that outer space was not subject to claims of territorial sovereignty. Such overflights were essential if reconnaissance satellites were to have intelligence value.

After President Eisenhower had committed the United States to an IGY satellite in May 1955, the army, navy, and air force competed for the assignment. In sharp contrast to the ​ Soviet Union’s work in 1957, the United States government spent much of the year organizing itself to handle a mission to space. This project required a specific organization or department to lead the charge, and in the interim, all branches of the military wanted a piece of the action.20 No civilian organization existed that was capable of developing the needed. The mission was ultimately assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory rather than to

17 Ibid. ​ 18 Byrne, Brendan. “NASA, Russia Ink Partnership.” WMFE, September 28, 2017. ​ https://www.wmfe.org/nasa-russia-ink-deep-space-exploration-partnership/78456. ​ 19 Logsdon, John M. “Preparing for .” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., ​ September 18, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration/Preparing-for-spaceflight. ​ ​ 20 Logsdon, John M. “From Sputnik to .” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., ​ September 18, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/science/space-exploration/From-Sputnik-to-Apollo. ​ ​

6 UGAMUNC XXVI - Race to the Moon the army’s so that the work would not interfere with Redstone’s higher-priority development of ballistic missiles, much to the chagrin of other US military bodies. The navy project, called Vanguard, would use a new launch vehicle based on modified and sounding rockets to orbit a small scientific satellite. Vanguard made slow progress over the subsequent two years, but, after Sputnik’s success, the White House pressed to have the satellite launched as quickly as possible. However, on December 6, 1957, Vanguard’s failed launch was broadcast for the world to witness.

The Cold War:

During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union fought as allies against the Axis powers. However, the relationship between the two nations was a tense one. Americans had long been wary of Soviet communism and concerned about Russian leader ’s tyrannical rule of his own country. For their part, the Soviets resented the Americans’ decades-long refusal to treat the USSR as a legitimate part of the international community as well as their delayed entry into World War II, which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of . After the war ended, these grievances festered into an overwhelming sense of mutual distrust. Postwar Soviet expansionism in fueled many Americans’ fears of a Russian plan to “control the world.” Meanwhile, the USSR came to resent an American arms buildup and interventionist approach to international relations. In such a hostile atmosphere, no single party was entirely to blame for the Cold War; in fact, some historians believe it was inevitable.21

The Cold War of the 1950s quickly turned to the frontier of space, with each country striving to outdo the other. Not only did the US bring over rockets and rocket parts from , but they also transported a number of German rocket scientists to help with the fledgling National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and its programs.22 In the United States, space was seen as the next frontier, a logical extension of the grand American tradition of exploration, and it was crucial not to lose too much ground to the Soviets. By 1958, US President Dwight Eisenhower signed a public order creating the National Aeronautics and ​ Space Administration, better known as NASA, a federal agency dedicated to space exploration, ​ as well as several programs seeking to exploit the military potential of space.

The Space Race (in Real Life):

Throughout the , the United States and the Soviet Union competed in space, with the Soviet Union at first taking a strong lead in terms of racking up space firsts. was the first human to fly in space on April 12, 1961, while the United States launched its first , , in early May. The Soviet Union also accomplished the first spacewalk, accomplished by . Under Korolev, the country also conducted surveillance of the moon with Lunas 1, 2 and 3. This was an important milestone as both the United States and the Soviet Union considered lunar missions in the coming years.

21 History.com Editors. “Cold War History.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, October 27, 2009. ​ https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history. ​ 22 Ibid. ​

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While the United States worked on its famed V rocket that eventually hefted and its crew into Earth orbit in 1969, on the way to landing on the moon, Korolev's team worked on the N-1 launch vehicle starting in 1962. The heavy-lift rocket stayed in development for a decade, but never had a successful ; its launch attempts included a huge explosion in 1969. Korolev, however, did not live to see humans land on the moon. In 1965 he was diagnosed with cancer, and he died on Jan. 14, 1966, during a surgical procedure. Two weeks later, 9 landed on the moon.23

Historic image of the American moonwalk

23 Ibid. ​

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Rules and Procedure:

While other delegates at UGAMUNC may be placed in traditional General Assembly-style Model United Nations committees, the Race to the Moon committee at UGAMUNC will run as a crisis committee. While you should still familiarize yourself with the UGAMUNC Rules and Procedure document to brush up on parliamentary procedure, this committee will vary from the typical format. Please familiarize yourself with the following rules specific to this committee, and once again, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]. ​

1. This committee is loosely based on the Russian-US Space Race. This is the general ​ topic of our crisis committee, and as members of the Soviet Space Program or related individuals, this will be the focus of much of the conversation for the weekend. However, you are more than welcome to focus on related issues of the times or alter the path of history forever.

2. While this is a historical committee, you have the freedom to alter history. This ​ committee is to be set in Moscow and the surrounding area in the year 1957, just after the failed launch of Vanguard TV-3. While members of this body should consider any events ​ ​ that took place prior to December 6th, 1957 as historical facts in this committee, any ​ ​ events that occurred after that date will not automatically occur. Characters in this body have a chance to rewrite fate in the manner they choose.

3. Utilize crisis notes to accomplish your goals in committee and craft your crisis arc. While the main method of negotiation in a typical General Assembly-style committee stems from typical speaking time work in committee, in a crisis committee, much of the work you do will be on your own through crisis notes. These are letters that your character will write to crisis, a body outside of the committee room, to accomplish something without the committee’s knowledge. A good crisis note not only explains, in detail, what to do, but it also explains very specifically how to do it. These notes will be addressed to a fictional person that has some relation to your character. “Crisis” (UGAMUNC staff and your crisis director) will answer these notes as if they were this fictional person, responding as that person would under the circumstances from the context you set out. Only address a note to crisis if you have a question about the way committee is going. There are many fantastic resources that better explain crisis notes in detail, but a starting point can be found here: http://bestdelegate.com/the-three-crisis-notes-to-send-at-the-beginning-of-any-model-un- crisis-committee/

4. Because this is a crisis-style committee, write directives, not resolutions. Although ​ they are very similar, directives are the typical formal paper written in a crisis committee, not resolutions. Directives are less formal, are normally titled, and are generally more straightforward. They are intended to utilize the powers present in the committee quickly address the crisis at hand or any related issues.

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5. Represent your understanding of your character. This is a historical crisis committee, ​ meaning that a few of these people actually existed and were somehow involved in the Russian Space Program. Use this to your advantage; do some research! Each character is unique, and therefore has unique goals and relationships among members of the committee. That said, be sure to represent your character’s beliefs and not simply your own. While you may not be prepared for the updates which crisis will present to you, you can at least understand the character you have been assigned and react to crisis in the way they would.

6. Be as historically accurate as possible. Because this is a historical committee, it is ​ expected that all delegates will act in a manner that suits the time period. We’d like you to understand the location and time period in which the committee is set, and this will require doing prior research. This also means that some convenient technologies may not have been invented yet, and are therefore not available in committee. For example, emailing a friend via a crisis note would be impossible, but calling them on the telephone is fine.

7. This committee is English only. Even if you can speak Russian, there will be no ​ advantage given to any delegate who chooses to write crisis notes or give speeches in Russian. While we certainly respect historical and cultural accuracy, we don’t want to exclude other delegates in committee who may not speak Russian (including your chairs).

8. All position papers for this committee are due on February 7 by 11:59pm. Please ​ submit these position papers directly to me at [email protected]. A position ​ ​ paper is essentially a short letter outlining your character’s position on the crisis at hand and your individual plans to accomplish those plans. We expect these papers to be around one (1) double-spaced page in length. I’ve attached some resources below to help you get started. Happy writing!

Best Delegate: https://bestdelegate.com/how-to-write-a-winning-position-paper/ ​ NMUN: https://www.nmun.org/assets/documents/NMUNPPGuide.pdf ​ AMUN example papers: https://www.amun.org/sample-paper-1/ ​

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Character Descriptions:

1. Pasha Lebedev, Mission Control Co-Lead, Sputnik 1 – A co-leader of the Mission ​ ​ Control team for Sputnik 1’s successful launch, you’re a rising star on the scene of the Soviet Union. You spent years training at MiG working on jet propulsion before risking everything to work for Energia on their satellite missions, but the reward has been great. You have your childhood neighbor, Korolev, to thank for a foot in the door, and now you’re wondering how to follow up such a rousing success.

2. Alexeev Smirnov, Mission Control Co-Lead, Sputnik 1 – The other leader of Mission ​ ​ Control during the Sputnik launch, you specifically headed the team focused on satellite operation in terms of capturing the necessary data from its sensors after launch. You and Pasha get along well, but you’re worried that all of the newfound international fame is starting to go to his head. Meanwhile, you and your team are already moving on to create stronger sensors rather than wasting your time on silly press conferences. Besides, how else are you going to beat the Americans?

3. Aleksandr Yahontov, Head of Propulsion Research – Your job at Energia is less flashy ​ ​ than the others’ but by far the most important (in your own humble opinion). The jet propulsion research that you lead is what led to the successful launch of Sputnik 1, while the Americans absolutely flubbed their attempts. You work closely with Pasha and his mission control team to bring your research to life, but your next project has become finding the most efficient source of propulsion known to man. Maybe something… subatomic?

4. Boris Oblonsky, Geological Scientist – To put it bluntly, magnetic fields are your life. ​ ​ You grew up with a passion for geology (you had the biggest rock collection on the block) and continued to study it in college. Your PhD in the field led you to be heralded for your tectonic plate research, but it is only with a bird’s-eye view that you can truly unlock the magic of Earth’s gravitational fields. In short, rocks rock.

5. Nicolai Baranov, Mathematical Lead – Numbers don’t lie. The numbers told you, as the ​ ​ lead of the Mathematics department at Energia, that the Soviets would be completely successful in their launch of Sputnik, and those numbers were correct. You trust the numbers more than you trust your comrades in the Math department, and this has not made you many friends along the way. However, with your brilliant mind and connections in math departments across the USSR, you feel confident that you and your team will succeed in any additional endeavors.

6. Sergei Fedorov, Mathematician – Mathematics can be seen as a dull subject, but you truly ​ ​ ​ appreciate and understand the beauty that numbers can bring to the world or to a workplace. As such, you have become one of the highest ranking mathematicians in Energia, and you became the go-to numbers whiz for the company after leaving your position at MiG. You are incredibly meticulous and also tend to notice quickly when something is awry, and you’ve begun to sense something fishy happening in the mission control section.

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7. Lehya Kotov, Computer – The first “computers” were actually women, so it’s no surprise ​ ​ that you, Lehya, were pulled into the space race after you began your career in accounting. Your love for logic and numbers has brought you incredible skill in the field of mathematics, but it hasn’t helped much in the realm of interpersonal communications. You’re a bit shy, and the men running Energia’s mathematics division have been walking all over you for the whole three years you’ve worked there. Maybe it’s time you actually get some credit around here.

8. Avtomat Kalashnikova, Businessman – Inventor of the AK-47, you made your fortune by ​ ​ ​ ​ age 35 and were determined to invest your wealth from weaponry in your biggest dream: outer space. You and your company are the primary sponsor of Energia’s work, especially the more experimental divisions such as space flight, but since the success of Sputnik, you’ve been excited to get your company’s name shown publicly alongside every successful new mission. Who knows, maybe one day you can be the one travelling into space.

9. Roman Gusev, Mission Control member – As a mission control specialist, you’ve been ​ ​ instrumental in the successful launch of Sputnik 1. You were the first ever man to count backwards from 10 and say “ignition” to see the bright flash of a rocket come into view. You also hear all the gossip from the entire Energia company in your meetings in the launch room, and there seem to be a lot of members of the company who are true to neither Energia nor the Soviet Union. You cannot stand for this any longer, and as a fervently loyal Soviet, it is your primary goal to find these people and safeguard your missions from them.

10. Ivan Zolotov, Biological Researcher – Growing up, you bonded with your mother ​ ​ through working in her garden. Although you originally planned to study medicine at university, as soon as you took your first plant sciences course, you knew you were hooked. You conducted years of research at the University of Moscow before being recruited from there to Tupolev, and you have only recently arrived at Energia. While you don’t yet have a passion for outer space, your love of plants and biology could be integral in determining whether living beings could ever survive the dangerous vacuum of space.

11. Katya Sobol, Secretary – You never dreamed of becoming a secretary, but you do feel ​ ​ lucky to be a secretary at a company so integral to the future of science, the Soviet Union, and the human race. You are quiet and observant, and you see absolutely everything that occurs within Energia’s doors, which is fascinating considering the wide range of types of people who work here. Your dream, your absolute craziest dream, would be to one day fly among the stars yourself as a “Cosmonaut.” But will you ever be allowed to do with no experience or training in the sciences?

12. Maksim Volkov, Army Contact – As a veteran of WWII, you understand the importance ​ ​ of sacrifice and hard work. You firmly believe that the Soviet space mission is beginning to grow full of itself already. While it’s great to have a successful launch, it’s the next steps that define your value, and the Americans are moving in quick for a man-driven aircraft in outer space. It’s up to you to keep everyone grounded and in-check, which shouldn’t be hard with your military contacts and training.

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13. Vladimir Chernov, Business Lead – Breaking away from your small town upbringings in ​ ​ Plyos became a successful businessman before you ever found your interest in outer space. It wasn’t until a now ex-girlfriend took you on a date to an observatory that you found your delight in the skies. You have decided to combine your skills with your passions to work in the business side of the Energia company, working to file patents, sell products to producers, and pitch ideas to the state and any military leaders necessary. Your charming ways have gotten you through many doors in life, but can you out-charm the Americans?

14. Timur Medvedev, Hardware Team Lead – With degrees in mechanical and electrical ​ ​ engineering, you lead the hardware team at Energia in the development of all physical components of satellites, from connecting wires to physically building the outer casing. Every piece of work that your team does is critical to the mission, and it is your particular attention to detail combined with your deep hatred of the Americans that propels you forward.

15. Dima Petrov, Cosmonaut in Training – As a cosmonaut in training, you have been put ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ through the most rigorous training that the Soviet Union has ever seen. You and your sister, Dasha, have been selected by the elite state-run mission after your successes in battle in WWII and your athletic prowess. While you deeply care about your sibling, you also know that only one man can be the first human in space, and you are determined to be him.

16. Dasha Petrov, Cosmonaut in Training - Your brother Dima has always been the golden ​ ​ ​ child, and that continues in the realm of cosmonaut training. You absolutely love him, but also, he’s your brother, and as such, he can be a bit of a pain. You’re just as worthy as he is of space travel! You are just as accomplished in your athletic abilities, intellect, and military prowess, and you firmly believe that you should be the first person, the first woman, in outer space.

17. Anton Korolev, Janitor of the Building - As the building janitor, you have access to ​ ​ ​ every department, laboratory, and office space in the Energia building. Your colleagues see you around, but you are truly invisible to them and their work. You have a true passion for physics, however, and are extremely interested in any open positions at the company. But with the space race in full force, no one has any time to hire. Maybe you can discover a few technical innovations on your own to fend off the Americans with your access to the library.

18. Misha Egorov, Electrical Engineer - Engineering is a field with immense potential in the ​ ​ ​ space race. It’s your job to design, prototype, and build any and all electronic components that enter outer space as a member of the engineering team. You firmly believe that you are the most important team member of the most important team at the company, and you will not hesitate until you and your team come out on top.

19. Sveta Krupin, Systems Engineer – As an incredibly rare woman in the engineering ​ ​ department, you often find yourself arguing with coworkers over issues that have little to do with work. You feel the need to stick up for yourself and your own intellect, but it’s difficult to prove yourself when your boss simply won’t assign you projects. While you’re extremely proud of your job at such a prestigious company as Energia, you may begin looking at alternate routes for your talents soon if you still can’t break into the boys’ club.

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20. Slavsky Lavro, Director of – With the Space Race between the Soviet ​ ​ Union and the United State heating up, it is important that the people of the Societ Union are aware of what Energia is accomplishing and support the efforts of Energia. With your charm and vast network of contacts, you have the ability to portray Energia however you see fit. The image of Energia rests solely in your hands.

21. Dimitri Yanovich, Design Lead – After spending your life studying aerospace ​ ​ engineering, it has paid off with a job as the aerospace design team lead within Energia. While others focus on the components of the spacecraft, you are more focused on the actual spacecraft; however, it is extremely important that you work with the other leads to design the best possible spacecraft. With your innovative and careful eye, you can reach the moon and more.

22. Leskova Stepanovna, Design Team – Designing spacecraft is something that you ​ ​ particularly excel at; your innovative ideas have allowed for vast design improvements to be made. However, after repeatedly getting passed up for promotions year after year, you are frustrated with Energia despite loving your job. No matter what, you plan on using your talents to ensure humanity is able to make its way into the stars. Perhaps if another to work elsewhere in this field came up, you wouldn’t say no.

23. Starikov Nikitovich, Government Representative – Though not directly involved in ​ ​ designing or engineering the next vehicle into space, it is your responsibility to ensure that Energia’s employees are loyal to the Soviet Union. It is your responsibility to report back to the government if there is any disloyalty to the government or talk of siding with the Americans. Energia is a critical national security organization, and it must be kept free of American spies.

24. Nikolay Sokoloff, Quality Assurance and Safety Lead – You serve a critical role in the ​ ​ final stages of design and testing for Energia’s space projects, directly responsible for final checks of satellites and spacecraft before they are launched. This role requires a high degree of collaboration with all elements of design and construction to assure that explosions don’t happen. Nothing will go kaboom under your watchful eye.

25. Nathan Greenway, Chief Engineer – Originally from the United States, you were enticed ​ ​ to join Energia several years ago when they offered you a significant leadership role that NASA couldn’t match. Criticized by your American colleagues as power hungry and deceitful, your ambition is your biggest strength, as well as the cause for your potential downfall. As chief engineer, you work alongside the other engineers in the construction of several essential components of satellites and spacecraft.

26. Alek Bogdanov, Government Representative – You work alongside Starikov Nikitovich ​ ​ to to report back to the government if there is any disloyalty to the government or talk of siding with the Americans. You might not be involved directly in designing or engineering the next vehicle into space, but it is your responsibility to ensure that Energia’s employees are loyal to the Soviet Union. Additionally, your boyhood passion for taking apart mechanized objects and putting them back together might come in handy in Energia’s engineering departments.

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27. Andrei Orlov, Mechanical Engineer – Your work as a mechanical engineer has led you ​ ​ from a researcher position at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology to a critical role in the flight mechanics of Sputnik. You’re obviously the “best in the biz” as you like to tell your peers around the office, but you’d never describe yourself as cocky. You’re just confident in your skills (even if your peers despise you for your regular mistakes in calculations – you never double check your math). You’ve been trying to get yourself promoted to chief engineer for years, but have never clenched the position. When will anyone appreciate your brilliance?!

28. Sergei Tumansky, Mechanical Engineer – Born in Minsk, you have been a strong ​ ​ supporter of the Soviet Union and have dedicated your life to utilizing your talents as a mechanical engineer for the good of the state. Your work has focused on designing aircraft engines, and you’ve served as the chief designer in the Tumansky Design Bureau, as well as working at TsIAM at the aircraft-engine plant N 29 in Leah. You’re one of Energia’s newest hires, and you have a lot to prove, but as a specialist in the field of mechanics and machine building, you know you’re up to any challenge, particularly from those lousy Americans.

29. Eduard Maksimov, Electrical Engineer – You worked as an electrician for almost ten ​ ​ years before attending the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and working toward your electrical engineering degree and accreditation. You’re used to being the odd one out after pursuing higher education as the oldest in every course, and that ostracization continues at Energia, where you are by far the oldest engineer. You’ve become somewhat of the “dad” of the group, able to provide wisdom but also left out of every social gathering. Maybe if your peers knew just how brilliant you were, or if one of their enemies did, they would appreciate you more.

30. Kostas Bykov, Lead Accountant – As Energia’s lead accountant, it is your job to ensure ​ ​ that the company is always in the black. You work closely with Vladimir Chernov, the business lead, but mostly end up attempting to curtail his ideas when he thinks too big. You don’t mean to be such a “negative Nikhil,” but making sure the money is spent efficiently and effectively keeps everyone in their jobs. And speaking of keeping everyone in their jobs, you’re also responsible for sending out paychecks.

31. Mikhail Nikolaev, Office Manager – You first started working at Energia as an assistant ​ ​ right after graduating from university with a physics degree. Deeply passionate about your beloved country and about the possibilities of space flight, you’ve risen through the ranks in your ten years at the company. However, you’ve always been hoping to get out of the office and into somewhere much more exciting, like mission control or one of the laboratories instead of ordering more paper clips all day. Can you prove your worthiness of a promotion, besting the Americans in every way you know how?

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