Konstantin Rudnev

Konstantin Nikolaevich Rudnev (; 1911–1980) was a Soviet politician who held various cabinet and public posts. He was the long-term minister of instrument making, automated equipment, and control systems between 1965 and 1980. He played a significant role in the Soviet missile and space programs.

Early life and education Rudnev was born in Tula on 22 June 1911. On 8 August 1950 he was named as the head of a science and research institute, NII 88, replacing Major General Lev R. Gonor in the post. Next he was appointed minister of instrument making, automated equipment, and control systems in October 1965.

Connection to Gagarin Rudnev was the chairman of the state commission responsible for launching the Vostok spacecraft with a human on board. The day after Yuri Gagarin completed the world’s first human spaceflight, he presented Rudnev with an issue of Pravda dated 13 April 1961 containing the TASS report on the flight, inscribed: “To the supervisor from the performer. Gagarin.”

In a conversation with Gagarin after his landing, Rudnev joked: “Well, you and I are practically countrymen. You graduated from the Orenburg Flight School, and I worked in the Orenburg region during the war.” Hero of Socialist Labour (17 June 1961) Six Orders of Lenin (5 August 1944, 20 April 1956, 21 December 1957, 17 June 1961, 2 July 1966, 21 June 1971) Order of the October Revolution (12 March 1976) Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class (16 September 1945) Two Orders of the Red Banner of Labour (3 June 1942, 1949) Medal "For Labour Valour" (8 June 1939)