The importance of K. E. Tsiolkovskii's ideas in the formation and development of space medicine.

The importance of K. E. Tsiolkovskii's ideas in the formation and development of space medicine is argued. The author analyzes K. E. Tsiolkovskii's science fiction writings and his basic researchs in aerodynamics and rocket techniques and shows that, besides the technical aspects of the problem, Tsiolkovskii penetrated deeply into the nature of the biological phenomena and revealed their essentials in a series of short descriptions. Tsiolkovskii argued convincingly in support of the view that man can withstand the action of factors of space flight and, step by step, can conquer cosmic space.