25 years ago, in 1996, Mikhail Fedorovich Reshetnev, one of the founders of Russian cosmonautics, the founder of the Information Satellite Systems company (ISS, today is part of the Roscosmos State Corporation), died. ISS Company named after Academician M. F. Reshetnev “honored its founder on the day of the anniversary of his death – January 26.
A solemn meeting with the laying of flowers at the monument to Mikhail Fedorovich took place on the square in front of the main building of the satellite-building enterprise. The management and veterans of the company, representatives of the public and the administration of Zheleznogorsk also visited the grave of the academician. The participants of the commemorative events who made a speech noted the contribution of Mikhail Fedorovich to the development of domestic unmanned astronautics, the significance of his scientific research and developments under his leadership for modern satellite construction.
Mikhail Fedorovich Reshetnev – designer of rocket and space systems, scientist, founder and first head of the ISS company. His professional development took place at the famous OKB-1 (now the SP Korolev Space and Energy Corporation, part of the Roscosmos State Corporation), where he went from an engineer to Deputy Chief Designer Sergei Pavlovich Korolev.
Under the leadership of Reshetnev, a small Siberian branch of the Korolev design bureau grew into a powerful enterprise that was the first in the country to develop and manufacture spacecraft and navigation systems, geodesy, direct television broadcasting and relaying. In the very first years of its activity, “Reshetnevskaya Firma” mastered the creation of communication satellites and today is the main manufacturer in the country. Also under Mikhail Fedorovich, the enterprise was the first in Russia to enter the international market of telecommunication spacecraft.
For almost 37 years, under the leadership of M.F. Reshetnev (since 1959), his company has created more than 1000 spacecraft for applied purposes, 30 space systems for communication, navigation, geodesy, relaying. Mikhail Fedorovich is the author of over 200 scientific papers and inventions. Doctor of Technical Sciences, Academician. He was awarded three Orders of Lenin, the Hammer and Sickle Gold Medal, the Badge of Honor, the Red Banner of Labor, For Services to the Fatherland, III degree, as well as other state and departmental awards.