2001: A Space-Time Odyssey

[michelvan]

Introduction:

This was a Alternate Cold War story publish in Alternate History.com in 2014
Sadly over years thing went not so well and my co-authors lost interest or had not time anymore.
Next to that happen Apple Tv Series "For All Mankind" 
I have decided to reworking, re-writing, re-editing this Alternate History for this Forum as a Solo project.
I hope you enjoy it.
​
Prologue

Once upon a time, there was a young engineer in Soviet Union who had just finished his studies at the Ukrainian Academy of Science in 1958.
He sent his application to several OKBs (Russian abbreviation for Experimental Design Bureau). Some looked at his resume and qualifications and threw away his request,
other put it in deposit in case they could not find a more experienced engineer, but then, finally, one OKB realised who this young man really was and hire him on spot!
The name of this young Soviet engineer was Sergei Khrushchev, son of Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier of Soviet Union and General Secretary of the Communist Party.
With Sergei's new job is at OKB-1, his boss Sergei Korolev now had an excellent connection to the very top of the Soviet political hierarchy...

[lordroel]

Feb 18, 2022 20:30:18 GMT michelvan said:

Introduction:

This was a Alternate Cold War story publish in Alternate History.com in 2014
Sadly over years thing went not so well and my co-authors lost interest or had not time anymore.
Next to that happen Apple Tv Series "For All Mankind" 
I have decided to reworking, re-writing, re-editing this Alternate History for this Forum as a Solo project.
I hope you enjoy it.
​
Prologue

Once upon a time, there was a young engineer in Soviet Union who had just finished his studies at the Ukrainian Academy of Science in 1958.
He sent his application to several OKBs (Russian abbreviation for Experimental Design Bureau). Some looked at his resume and qualifications and threw away his request,
other put it in deposit in case they could not find a more experienced engineer, but then, finally, one OKB realised who this young man really was and hire him on spot!
The name of this young Soviet engineer was Sergei Khrushchev, son of Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier of Soviet Union and General Secretary of the Communist Party.
With Sergei's new job is at OKB-1, his boss Sergei Korolev now had an excellent connection to the very top of the Soviet political hierarchy...

Having seen this on Secret-Projects i am happy to see it here as well.

[michelvan]

Feb 18, 2022 20:37:24 GMT lordroel said:

Having seen this on Secret-Projects i am happy to see it here as well.

yes, but Secret-Projects focus on more un unbuild Aerospace project, not there use in Alternate History...

[lordroel]

Feb 18, 2022 20:43:41 GMT michelvan said:

Feb 18, 2022 20:37:24 GMT lordroel said:

Having seen this on Secret-Projects i am happy to see it here as well.

yes, but Secret-Projects focus on more un unbuild Aerospace project, not there use in Alternate History...

Well you can mix them together, we see it on For All Mankind (TV series).

[michelvan]

1 - R-9 vs R-16

Mitrofan Nedelin played a key role in ushering in the space age by concluding that rockets were the ideal means to deliver a nuclear warhead to enemy instead of bombers and ordered Sergei Korolev to develop the massive R-7 ICBM.
But this rocket and its derivatives, was powerful enough to launch Sputnik and Vostok manned space vehicles into orbit enabling the USSR to beat the US to space. but it was never an effective ICBM!
For Military purposes however, a new ICBM was necessary.
One that could be launched quickly after the go ahead, one that would be useful in retaliation against an American first strike.
So the Soviet Strategic Rocket Force wanted a better, usable ICBM launcher they could use from protective Silos.

With the success of first tactical missile using storable fuels, it became obvious the new generation ICBM have use them
So Milhail Yangel OKB-589 ordered the development of the R-16 using Toxic nitric acid and UDMH fuel.
But Korolev abhorred those fuels would be "playing with devil" and prefer cleaner Liquid oxygen and Kerosine.
He got permission to build a backup system in case the R-16 project failed: The R-9.
Actually Gluchko's OKB-456 was to build rocket engines for R-16 and R-9,
But Korolev hated him[1] and refused his offer, using his growing influence to instead have team up with Kuznetsov OKB-276 for engines.

Despite pressure to perform all safety tests before October 7th (the day of the Bolshevik revolution)
The vehicle thuroughly tested even after the date, the last thing Nedeplin needed was a failed launch[2]
Luckily all went well as the rocket soared into the sky. While the launch was not without it's faults (comming somewhat short of the intended range)
The success was more than any of the hundreds of engineers had hoped for.

While the R-16 R&D went well, the R-9 experienced problems with it’s NK-9 engines.
OKB-276 just start to build rocket engine and had not experience like it rival OKB-456, what let to violent explosion on test stand.
On April 9, 1961, the first R-9 made test launch. 54 second into flight a fire broke out in engine Nr. 4 leading to the destruction of the R-9
The second test launch in May ended in a disaster as engine Nr. 6 exploded 20 second after launch.
OKB-1 started to check the delivery NK-9 engines and found faulty welds, metal shavings in turbo pump, fuel lines and Injector-plates.
Kuznetsov made his best to increase the production standards and to push for better quality control on rocket engines.
And with success, on October 25, 1961. The third R-9 launch went good following which the R-9 started a series of launches for it qualification.

By this time it was too late for the R-9 project, In same time the R-16 start make impressive results,
On August 1961 the R-16s were being deployed as operational ICBMs all along the Soviet Union
The R-16 would be used in mass for several years untill it's eventual retirement.[3]

The R-9 stay as reserve force in case, all R-16 had to be fired in case of War, were they came too close in October 1961
Final end of R-9 came on October 24 1963, with LC-70 silo disaster. A oxygen tank leak in the Silo fueling system, let to a blaze killing seven men of the launch crew.
The R-9 was pullt out of Service, Sergei Korolev accepted the failure of R-9, he was busy for moment with a important projects for Soviet Union.
The real winner of the entire R-9 ordeal was Kuznetsov's OKB-276, which with each error learned more and more how to build rockets engines and that would be quit handy for a future Korolev/Soviet Space project.[4]


NOTES:
[1] in 1938 Korolev was deliberately accused and send to gulag camp later he works as prisoner under Gluchko at OKB-16, Here became the former friends mortal rivals and enemies.

[2] The Nedelin Tragedy is famous in rocket history for being one of the worst launch failures ever. 120 people died, the program was delayed by a year, and was covered up untill 1989. here in Story the launch is successful because took more time for testing.

[3]Without the Nedelin Tragedy, the R-16 becomes a commonly deployed ICBM. With the Soviet Union more reliant on ICBMs they never need to deploy IRBMs in Cuba and the Cuban Missile crisis never happens. The results of this will become clearer later in the story

[4]Korolev was forced to work with Glushko who built the rocket engines for the R-9 rather than Kuznetsov, which lead to problems when the Kuznetsov completely inexperienced with rocket engines, was tasked with designing, building, testing and launching the NK-15 engines years later for the N-1 project.
In story with greater influence in the Soviet leadership, Korolev is able to get his way and isn't forced to cooperate with Glushko, whom Korolev hated.

[lordroel]

Feb 18, 2022 23:16:32 GMT michelvan said:

Cuba and the Cuban Missile crisis never happens.

All this due the R-16.

[michelvan]

Feb 19, 2022 7:37:08 GMT lordroel said:

All this due the R-16.

Yes, do issue with the R-16 and the Nedelin Tragedy

Khrushchev took a dangerous gamble and installed IRBM on Cuba (just like NATO installed IRBM in Italy and Turkey)
But USA found the installations in Cuba too early and world was close to nuclear War.

In this TL, the R-16 works and deployed in large numbers earlier making the Cuba gamble pointless.
but that makes this world not save, what part 2 shows clearly

[michelvan]

2 - 1961: The Year the World almost faced Nuclear War twice !

February 9, 1961. An IL-18 plane carrying Leonid Brezhnev on board.
At the time he was acting as the nominal head of state of the Soviet Union and on a state visit to the Guinea Republic.
Do navigation error the plane enter French-Algerian airspace.
Because the Civil-War there, the French military suspected that IL-18 was a weapon transporter for FLN rebels,
and send Vautour fighter jets to intercept the airplane.
The IL-18 Pilots believing there outside French airspace, first ignored the french Vautour.
until one of french Pilot open fire, to force Aircraft to follow them, unfortunate damaging the Il-18.
The pilots try to reach Morocco airfield but crash in desert killing all onboard !

The dead of Leonid Brezhnev was shock for Soviet politburo, who consider this as act of barbarism,
The French Government apologise, but insisted that Brezhnev's plane strayed into French-Algerian airspace.
But Prime-minister Michel Debrè manage this so badly, that Khrushchev put a ultimatum to De Gaulle:

Extradite those Responsible of this political assassination to Soviet or else the Soviet union will retaliate.
and suddenly this became a World Crisis !

The situation was hopeless, France had Nuclear bomb prototypes, but no delivery system for them.
Kennedy declared DEFCON 2 and mobilised the NATO forces in case the Soviets really was preparing to attack,
While the U.N try to defuse the situation.
But before the situation escalated to a full war, De Gaulle extradite Michel Debrè to Soviet embassy in Paris.
He was transported to Moscow and trail in 1962 and sentenced to life in Prison.
(and allot french were happy he was gone, Debrè was after all one of most unpopular politician in France )
France ended up after this crisis deeper in NATO as De Gaulle wanted.
While the British made demands: let UK join the European Economic Community in exchange for full support for France in NATO.

April 12, 1961 one biggest moments in History, Yuri Gagarin, became the first man in space.

The Next crisis came just days later on 17 April. The Bay of Pigs invasion happened in Cuba, the moment Fidel Castro announce that the invasion had failed,
Nikita Khrushchev declared that Cuba is now under the nuclear protection of USSR,
threatening the use of ICBMs to defend the country for any aggressor.

On May 4th, 1961 Alan Shepard became the first American in space on his suborbital Mercury
Follow on May 25th, with Kennedy "we choose go to the moon" speech starting the Moon race.

Then the East Germans started the construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13. The other major crisis of that year.
It's zenith came on October 27, when US and Soviet tanks and infantry held a standoff at Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.
During the tensest hours, the World watched as they stood on the edge of Nuclear War again, which, luckily, did not happen.
Thankfully nothing even approaching the crisis period of this year would happen in the rest of the Cold War.

But it was a wakeup call in Washington D.C. and Moscow,
When allot of politician were asking „Do we need to play the Nuclear Card in this Game ?“
The next 3 years the Kennedy Administration and Politburo started negotiation for treaties.
Even after murder of J.F. Kennedy, President Johnson completed it, resulting in:

-Installation of “Red Phone“ line between Washington D.C. and Moscow (Telephone, Telex, later Videophone and computer links)
-Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (only underground testing. No testing on surface, in air, ocean or space or other planets )
-Voluntary Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (V-SALT) limiting the total number of ICBM, Bombers, SLBM.

Aftermath
V-SALT brought allot financial savings: the USA retired the Atlas and Titan ICBM earlier in favour of Minutemen,
While the USSR focused on the R-16 and UR-200 ICBM.
France started Nuclear armament in the H-bomb, Missile, MRBM, Bomber and SLBM Submarines.
For Next 20 years France and USSR relationship was ultra cold, until socialist François Mitterrand became French President.
The Swiss vote in plebiscite for nuclear Weapon program for self-defence in 1962.

[lordroel]

Feb 19, 2022 12:30:25 GMT michelvan said:

2 - 1961: The Year the World almost faced Nuclear War twice !

February 9, 1961. An IL-18 plane carrying Leonid Brezhnev on board.
At the time he was acting as the nominal head of state of the Soviet Union and on a state visit to the Guinea Republic.

How do French not recognize this as being a civil aircraft.

[stevep]

Feb 19, 2022 12:35:30 GMT lordroel said:

Feb 19, 2022 12:30:25 GMT michelvan said:

2 - 1961: The Year the World almost faced Nuclear War twice !

February 9, 1961. An IL-18 plane carrying Leonid Brezhnev on board.
At the time he was acting as the nominal head of state of the Soviet Union and on a state visit to the Guinea Republic.

How do French not recognize this as being a civil aircraft.

  It could be more that having been sent out they were determined to force the a/c to land and the Soviet refusal to respond to instruction meant there were warning shots fired.  The big issue is that the 'warning shots' actually hit the target. 

  There are some interesting butterflies here.  The Swiss going nuclear may not be significant - assuming they go all the way - but could result in others following and more proliferation of nukes, both in Europe and then wider afield. 

  Having Britain in the early EEC could have some big impacts as well although not sure how likely that is given De Gaulle's hostility towards the idea.  Plus unless its able to get good terms its going to cause a lot of economic impacts as OTL.  

  However having France fully integrated into NATO could have some impacts, especially if its pushed its nuclear developments more.

[michelvan]

Feb 19, 2022 12:35:30 GMT lordroel said:

How do French not recognize this as being a civil aircraft.

Actually, They firer Warning shot to force the Plane to land, not knowing who was on board and why it enter Algerian airspace.

Feb 19, 2022 14:31:12 GMT stevep said:

The Swiss going nuclear may not be significant

wait and see

This video give you the Mind set of Swiss around that time

[lordroel]

Feb 19, 2022 15:10:21 GMT michelvan said:

Feb 19, 2022 12:35:30 GMT lordroel said:

How do French not recognize this as being a civil aircraft.

Actually, They firer Warning shot to force the Plane to land, not knowing who was on board and why it enter Algerian airspace.

Feb 19, 2022 14:31:12 GMT stevep said:

The Swiss going nuclear may not be significant

wait and see

This video give you the Mind set of Swiss around that time

So now the question will be, will the Swiss go for missiles ore plane delivered nukes.

[michelvan]

Feb 19, 2022 15:12:18 GMT lordroel said:

So now the question will be, will the Swiss go for missiles ore plane delivered nukes.

There original Plan was to licence build in Swiss a 100 French Dassault Mirage IIIS (S for Switzerland)
Modified for Swiss weapons and Radar systems and for storage in aircraft caverns in the mountains, that Swiss Air Force uses as bunkers.
and of course drop a nuclear warhead on target just like it french counterpart!

So far i know had the French no idea what Swiss were planing with Mirage III as they sign the licence with them
Official there were Interceptors for Swiss Air Force...

[575]

Intersting so far - are we going to see the ICC or kinda in 2001?

[lordroel]

Feb 19, 2022 16:49:43 GMT michelvan said:

Feb 19, 2022 15:12:18 GMT lordroel said:

So now the question will be, will the Swiss go for missiles ore plane delivered nukes.

There original Plan was to licence build in Swiss a 100 French Dassault Mirage IIIS (S for Switzerland)
Modified for Swiss weapons and Radar systems and for storage in aircraft caverns in the mountains, that Swiss Air Force uses as bunkers.
and of course drop a nuclear warhead on target just like it french counterpart!

So far i know had the French no idea what Swiss were planing with Mirage III as they sign the licence with them
Official there were Interceptors for Swiss Air Force...

So this according to Wikipedia page called: Switzerland and weapons of mass destruction

On 4 May 1964, the military joint staff issued a recommendation to have about 100 bombs (60–100 kilotons), 50 artillery shells (5 kt), and 100 rockets (100 kt) within the next 15 years, at costs of about 750 million Swiss francs. There were plans for 7 underground nuclear tests in "uninhabited regions" of Switzerland – a location with a radius of 2–3 kilometers (1.2–1.9 mi) "that can be sealed off completely."

Is what the Swiss of this TL will go after.