Alexander Dmitrievich Zasyadko

Alexander Dmitrievich Zasyadko (Russian: Александр Дмитриевич Засядко; 1779 – 8 June [O.S. 27 May] 1837), was a Russian Imperial gunner and specialist in rocketry, Lieutenant General (1829) of the Imperial Russian Army. In 1799, he participated in the Italian campaign of the Russian army under the command of Aleksandr Suvorov, Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812 and Patriotic War of 1812.

In 1797, Zasyadko graduated from the Artillery and Engineering School in Saint Petersburg (currently Mozhaysky Military Engineering-Space University).

In 1815, Zasyadko began his work on creating military gunpowder rockets. He constructed rocket-launching platforms, which allowed to fire in salvos (6 rockets at a time), and gun-laying devices. Zasyadko elaborated a tactics for military use of rocket weaponry. In 1820, Zasyadko was appointed head of the Petersburg Armory, Okhtensky Powder Factory, pyrotechnic laboratory and the first Higher Artillery School in Russia. In 1827, Zasyadko was in charge of Artillery Headquarters of the Russian army and took part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829, his rockets played important role during siege of Brăila and Varna. He organized rocket production in a special rocket workshop and created the first rocket sub-unit in the Russian army.

In 1834, Zasyadko retired due to his illness. The crater Zasyadko on the far side of the Moon is named after him.

References
  • Никонов, В. П. (2001). Рождение ракетного оружия. Аэрокосмический портал Украины (in Russian). ИАЦ "Спейс-Информ". Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 9 Aug 2005.
  • Glushko, Valentin, ed. (1985). "ЗАСЯДКО Александр Дмитриевич". Энциклопедия Космонавтика (in Russian). М.: Советская энциклопедия. pp. 117, 120.
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