Exactly 90 years ago, November 13, 1931, the Leningrad Group of Studying Reactive Movement (Lengird) was established with the Society for Promoting Defense, Aviation and Chemical Construction (Osoavihim). In the group on a public basis, rocket enthusiasts were united.
among the organizers and activists were scientists and popularizers Ya.I. Perelman, N.A. Ryunin, engineers A.N. Stern, E.E. Damn, physics M.V. Gazhala, I.N. Samarin, M.V. Machinsky, representatives of the public. The first chairman of the organization was elected V.V. Minds.
By 1932, more than 400 members were in Lengird. The group actively promoted rocket techniques, organized an indicative launches of small powder missiles, developed a number of original projects of experimental missiles (photographer, meteorological rocket, etc.), in particular, the Razumov rocket is a rotative liquid rocket engine. In 1932, the organization opened courses on the theory of reactive movement.
In 1934, Lengird was transformed into a section of a reactive movement, which under the leadership of M.V. Maginsky continued to propaganda work, conducted experiments on the effects of animal overloads and up to the beginning of World War II, led the development and testing of model liquid missile engines and rockets of original schemes.