Gentlemen, today we will be discussing a figure of history. A true hero, looked up to by millions as a source of inspiration every day. A man who's legacy was not so much defined, but etched into the very fabric of his time, and time thereafter.
I am referring, of course, to Ivan Alexandrov.
Ivan Alexandrov was born in Moscow in year 19XX, the son of a farmer and his wife. As a boy, Ivan displayed great promise in the field of aeronautics and engineering. On his parents farmland he devised new and original methods of transporting produce to government warehouses, becoming the first person to strap a live farm animal to a hand fashioned rocket powered by agricultural waste as a form of shipping (A practice still widely used today in Russia and her surrounding nations, commonly referred to as 'Rokketpigviy').
Upon his 18th birthday, Ivan was conscripted into the Red Army. After completing basic training, which consisted of taping one bayonet to the end of another and shouting curse words at actors portraying Uncle Sam, Ivan was put on a train and ordered to stand guard at the Finnish/USSR border. After a superior officer spotted Alexandrov encouraging a fellow guardsmen to leap from the defensive wall with nothing but a winged suit to slow his fall, he was to be disciplined. Until the officer saw the guard actually attempt to fly, that is.
The guard broke his legs in 4 places. Ivan was transferred to officer training. The Soviet Union could make use of such talents.
After completing his officers training, which was accomplished when he could successfully order a soldier to sit in the corner of a circular room, Ivan was free to pursue the field of work he had desired all along. Aeronautics.
The charismatic, talented young man rose quickly through the ranks. A combination of his stunning handsomeness and ingenious advances in the aeronautical field ensured he was well known and renowned within the military high command. After improving upon the IS-2 design, which allowed the tank to not only fly, but engage other aircraft in combat, he did the unthinkable. He informed command that he wanted to begin construction of a complex structure, powered by a combination of solar panels and an enormous reactor, packed with computers and millions of rubles worth of technology...
And he wanted it in space.
Swayed by his argument that this act would underline Soviet achievement and power, and that rumors were the Americans were beginning work on their own 'space station' as well, command signed off on the request.
Several years later, the completed space station was shot into orbit. The rocket which took it there piloted by none other than the man behind the entire project, Ivan Alexandrov.
A picture of Ivan shortly before boarding his 'Rokketpigviy 2' rocket to bring his space station into orbit.The first man in space became an icon the world over. Ivan was known internationally for his great achievement, and his accomplishment became a statement to the efficiency of a communist run country. His image was used across the nation to bolster the morale of the people.
Here is a rare still, declassified from United States intelligence operations, and smuggled out of the country. It depicts Ivan Alexandrov promoting his self themed, government issue industrial grade wheat based breakfast cereal, "Ivan's Breakfast Blast Off!".
The USSRs thunder was not to last however. Within months, the United States government announced that their "Really big" space station was to enter orbit as well, approximately 500 meters from the already established Soviet station. The USSR declared their disapproval of this attempt to 'Get all up in our grill', but the United States government replied 'Deal with it.' before launching their space station into position.
Now, as tensions rise between the two superpowers, the future of humanity on Earth and the stars ahead lies in question.
Who will colonize space? Red or blue? Communist or Capitalist? Eagle or Bear?
Well I guess you'll just have to find out yourself...
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