In December 1932 Vladimir Chizhevsky proposed a detailed description of a balloon configuration capable of beating Auguste Piccard 's altitude record . The military supported the project , named '' USSR-1 '' , and Prokofiev assumed the role of its leader , coordinating efforts by military and civilian designers and technologists . Consolidation of practically all available expertise and rigorous safety enforcement resulted in a sound and safe design ( unlike the ill-fated contemporary '' Osoaviakhim-1 '' )
Osoaviakhim-1
Osoaviakhim-1
Georgy Prokofiev