Theodosius Chmil made a photo of Konstantin TsiolkOvsky in 1932 when the famous Soviet scientist turned 75. Tsiolkovsky’s birthday was solemnly celebrated in KalUga: congratulatory telegrams, letters from state and public organizations, scientists and technicians, and friends of the scientist were read. Specially for this event Tsiolkovsky prepared a lecture on astronautics. And the Presidium of the Central Council of Osoaviakhim /osO-Avia-khIm/ (Society for the Promotion of Aviation and Chemical Defense) sent to the Government of the USSR a request to award the famous scientist the Order of state-wide importance and to increase his pension.
On September 17, 1932, a ceremonial anniversary meeting was scheduled in Moscow. It was held in the Pillar hall of Unions. There were reports on the life and scientific achievements of the scientist and congratulations from representatives of government institutions, public organizations and young people. The Government awarded Tsiolkovsky with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour “For special services in the field of inventions, which are of great importance for the economic power and defense of the USSR”. In November 1932 in Moscow, while accepting this award, the scientist said: I can thank the Government for this high award only with my work. To thank with words has no meaning’.
The order was made of silver. The base of the sign was a toothed gear, and along its borders, along the circumference, ears of wheat were placed. The lower part of the gear was covered by a right triangle made of red enamel. A circle with a picture of a hydroelectric power station on it was depicted in the central part of the sign. A gilded image of the hammer and sickle was placed in the center of the circle. In the upper part of the circle one could see a small-sized sheet of enameled red banner with the inscription ‘Proletarians of all countries, unite! ’. The letters ‘USSR’ were located in the lower part of the order on a stylized shield.
When Konstantin Tsiolkovsky returned to KalUga, photographer Theodosius Chmil took several pictures of him in the portrait genre. The portrait is chest-high, with the head three quarters to the left is a classic photograph for those years. On the lapel of the jacket of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky you can see the order of the Red Banner of Labor and the badge ‘Activist of Osoaviakhim of the USSR’. The photograph was first published in the Kaluga newspaper ‘Commune’ on September 20, 1935.
On September 17, 1932, a ceremonial anniversary meeting was scheduled in Moscow. It was held in the Pillar hall of Unions. There were reports on the life and scientific achievements of the scientist and congratulations from representatives of government institutions, public organizations and young people. The Government awarded Tsiolkovsky with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour “For special services in the field of inventions, which are of great importance for the economic power and defense of the USSR”. In November 1932 in Moscow, while accepting this award, the scientist said: I can thank the Government for this high award only with my work. To thank with words has no meaning’.
The order was made of silver. The base of the sign was a toothed gear, and along its borders, along the circumference, ears of wheat were placed. The lower part of the gear was covered by a right triangle made of red enamel. A circle with a picture of a hydroelectric power station on it was depicted in the central part of the sign. A gilded image of the hammer and sickle was placed in the center of the circle. In the upper part of the circle one could see a small-sized sheet of enameled red banner with the inscription ‘Proletarians of all countries, unite! ’. The letters ‘USSR’ were located in the lower part of the order on a stylized shield.
When Konstantin Tsiolkovsky returned to KalUga, photographer Theodosius Chmil took several pictures of him in the portrait genre. The portrait is chest-high, with the head three quarters to the left is a classic photograph for those years. On the lapel of the jacket of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky you can see the order of the Red Banner of Labor and the badge ‘Activist of Osoaviakhim of the USSR’. The photograph was first published in the Kaluga newspaper ‘Commune’ on September 20, 1935.
