Mikhail Kuzmich Iangel

Born Oct. 25 (Nov. 7), 1911, in the village of Zyrianova, Nizhneilimskii Raion, Irkutsk Oblast; died Oct. 25, 1971, in Moscow. Soviet scientist; designer in the field of rocket and space technology. Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1966). Twice Hero of Socialist Labor (1959 and 1961). Member of the CPSU from 1931.

Iangel’ graduated from the S. Ordzhonikidze Moscow Institute of Aviation in 1937. He worked in N. N. Polikarpov’s design office until 1944, taking part in the development of the 1–16 and I-17 fighters and a twin-engine fighter that was to escort long-range bombers. In 1944 he began working in Ar. I. Mikoyan’s and V. M. Miasishchev’s design offices. Iangel’ graduated from the Academy of the Aviation Industry in 1950 and served as director of a scientific research institute from 1952 to 1954. In 1954 he became chief designer in a design office.

Iangel’ established a new direction, and founded his own school, in the development of rockets and spacecraft used for various purposes. He made a substantial contribution to the development of cooperation among socialist countries in the area of satellite research, as well as to the study of the upper atmosphere and near-earth space in the Cosmos program.

Iangel’ was awarded the Korolev Gold Medal of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in 1970. He was a candidate member of the Central Committee of the USSR from 1966 to 1971 and a deputy to the seventh and eighth convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. He received the Lenin Prize in 1960 and the State Prize of the USSR in 1967. Iangel’ was awarded four Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, and various medals.