Lavochkin and Kovtunenko scientific and production association: Intersection of destinies that gave a new impetus to the development of national unmanned astronautics

The article describes the life and creative activity of V.M. Kovtunenko, an outstanding creator of national rocket and space technology. Many research projects were implemented under his leadership in the Lavochkin Scientific and Production Association, such as the unmanned spacecraft to Venus, Mars, and small bodies in the solar system (Phobos and Halley's comet), the first domestic extra-atmospheric astrophysical observatories Astron and Granat, interplanetary spacecraft of the new generation "Phobos", the first optoelectronic remote sensing system, the spacecraft Arkon-1, and a versatile booster unit Fregat.