(Image credit: Apple TV)

Sergei Korolev was one of the most pivotal figures in the early days of space exploration. This Ukraine-born engineer had one hell of a resumé, having overseen the development of the R-7 rocket (derivations of which are still in use on Soyuz spacecraft), Sputnik , and Vostok programs. He was a major reason why the USSR beat the USA in most of the early exchanges of the Space Race, as the first satellite, f irst man in orbit , first woman in orbit , and first spacewalker all hailed from the eastern side of the Iron Curtain.

Most people in the Soviet Union, however — even his closest colleagues — didn't even know his name.…