Sergei Korolev, father of the Soviet space program, born 1907

Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, born January 12, 1907 in Russia, was responsible for developing Sputnik 1 and sending Laika and the first human (Yuri Gagarin) in space.  He was arrested in 1938 on a false charge and spent almost 6 years in a Soviet prison.  Against all odds, he actually survived and was recognized for his skills in rocket design.

He directed the Soviet space program and stunned the world when Sputnik 1 was successfully launched in 1957.

Korolev died unexpectedly in 1966 and the Soviet dream of putting a man on the moon died with him.