by Natalia ALEXEYEVA, journalist

As Nikolai Pirogov, an outstanding Russian surgeon (1810 - 1881), has put it, the book is a yardstick of society. Indeed, those who visited a book fair held in March 2007 at the National Exhibition Center in Moscow and attended a round table on books about outer space found themselves among a good company. The round table was sponsored by the Federal Agency for the Press and Mass Media, RT-Soft Publishers and other bodies.

Books on space and the universe have always been attracting interest of broad readership. And this is absolutely true of a three-volume book of reminiscences on Sergei Korolev, a great Russian aerospace designer timed for his birth centenary.* The author of this book (S. P. Korolev: Father) is Natalia Koroleva, his daughter, who, for well over forty years, has been collecting bits of evidence on her father and visiting many places connected with his life and activity. Such copious material has enabled her to stick to real facts and happenings. Using archival documents of the KGB (Soviet State Security Committee in 1954 to 1991) and other repressive bodies, she has debunked some myths and legends attached to the name of our celebrated compatriot.

Taking up the subject, cosmonaut Anatoly Berezovoi commented on the book Rockets and the People Who Have Made Them-written by Acad. Boris Chertok, a close associate of Korolev's, and put out in a second edition by RT-Soft Publishers. Boris Chertok, among the illustrious cohort of our rocket-makers, had much to say on the productive cooperation of scientists and aerospace engineers. As an insider he took a direct part in the developing and testing of our rockets and missiles.

* See: N. Sevastyanov, "The Cause of Legendary Designer Lives On"; N. Koroleva, "His Name and Cosmos Are Inseparable", Science in Russia, No. 1, 2007. - Ed.

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Natalia, a daughter of the physicist and writer Leonid Leskov, told the audience about hitherto unknown facts pertaining to the lifework of her father, the author of such fundamental works as Lectures on Cosmology and An Unknown Universe. He looked into the intricate zigzags in the development of human civilization and the priceless heritage of bygone generations, and visualized broad prospects in the exploration of extraterrestrial worlds. His works are being prepared for publication.

Air Force Colonel Valentina Ponomareva, a standby of the world's first space lady Valentina Tereshkova (who made her epic flight in June 1963), had a lot of interesting things to tell. Ms. Ponomareva is the author of the book A Feminine Visage of Space (Helios Publishers, 2002)-a frank and lyrical account livened up with many rare photographic pictures and published in an excellent format.

Taking part in the get-together were the spacemen Alexander Serebrov, Viktor Savinykh and Alexander Lazutkin, along with the test spaceman Sergei Zhukov, Director General of the Technology Transfer Company, the veteran aerospace designer Ali Sunchurov, Major General Vladimir Khrenov, one of the first builders of the Baikonur spacedrome*, editor-inchief of the journal Novosti kosmonavtiki (Cosmonautics News) Igor Marinin and other insiders. The keynote of their message was that those who are involved with cosmonautics and write on this subject are in for a rainbow of good opportunities in the further exploration of the solar system with the aid of automatic space stations and piloted spaceships, and in the further development of the infrastructure of near space (global information science and energetics, orbital laboratories, lunar plants and settlements, flights to Mars**). All that will set the stage for a planetary noosphere and build a bridgehead for people's journey into the depths of the universe.

* See: Yu. Markov, "Baikonur: 50 Years of Serving Mankind", Science in Russia, No. 3, 2005. - Ed.

** See: M. Litvak, N. Mitrofanov, "Martian Seasons", Science in Russia, No. 4, 2004; L. Zelyony, K. Pichkhadze, "From Magnetosphere of the Earth to Martian Satellite", Science in Russia, No. 5, 2005; E. Galimov, " 'Phobos-Grunt', the Russian Project", Science in Russia, No. 1, 2006. - Ed.