According to Ukrainian media reports, on December 12, Mikhail Shatsky, the deputy general designer of the Mars Design Bureau in the Russian suburb of Kuzminsky Forest Park near Kotelniki, was found dead. No official confirmation of this information has been provided.
Alexander Nevzorov was the first to report the constructor’s murder on Thursday morning, publishing photographs of a man resembling Shatsky. “Important Stories” geolocated the shooting site, placing it about 10 minutes walk from Shatsky’s home in Kotelniki.
According to the “Vesti. Duty Part” program on Russia 24, witnesses heard sounds of pistol shots near Kuzminsky Forest Park in the evening of December 10. The correspondent reported that witnesses found a man without signs of life in the forest. However, according to “Vesti”, the police did not find the victim.
The Mars Design Bureau is part of the state corporation Rosatom and develops and produces control and navigation systems for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Shatsky, according to the bureau’s website, was involved in developing control
Title: Russian Engineer and Spacecraft Designer Alexander Shatsky Found Dead in Moscow Suburbs
Subtitle: Tributes pour in for the chief constructor of Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center’s "Mars" Design Bureau.
In a tragic turn of events, Russian media has reported the death of renowned aircraft and spacecraft designer Alexander Shatsky. The 67-year-old engineer was found dead in his dacha in the Moscow suburbs on Saturday, May 14.
Career Pinnacles
Shatsky, a graduate of the Moscow Aviation Institute, was a distinguished figure in the Russian aerospace industry. He began his career at the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, where he eventually rose to become the chief constructor of the "Mars" Design Bureau. His impressive portfolio includes key contributions to several Soviet and Russian space missions, including:
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Buran: Shatuki played a pivotal role in the design of the Buran spacecraft, a reusable orbital spacecraft. Only one unmanned test flight was completed before the project was cancelled.
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Progress M and TMA: He was involved in the development of the Progress M and TMA spacecraft, which served as the primary cargo and crew carriers to the International Space Station (ISS).
- Persei and AO-70: Shat التركي also contributed to the design of the Persei spacecraft and the AO-70 satellite.
Condolences and Tributes
News of Shatsky’s death sparked an outpouring of grief and admiration from his colleagues and the Russian aerospace community. Considered a highly skilled and dedicated professional, Shatsky was remembered fondly for his warmth, modesty, and unwavering commitment to his work.
Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos, expressed his condolences on Twitter, describing Shatsky as "a true representative of the Russian engineering school." Rogozin praised his contributions to the Russian space industry and offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
The cause of Shatsky’s death has not been officially disclosed, leaving his colleagues and the wider space community in shock and mourning. The loss of such a talented and dedicated engineer is a significant blow to the Russian space industry. Alexander Shatsky’s legacy, however, will continue to be celebrated in every spacecraft he helped bring to life.
