Yusif Mammadaliyev (1905-1961)

He was one of the founders of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.

He is the author of more than 200 scientific works as well as six pieces of research. He made a huge contribution to the technology of the country's chemical industry. He laid the foundations of oil chemistry in Azerbaijan. He proposed rubber production using natural oil and gas for the first time. 

In addition, the scholar applied toluol (an explosive subsstance) and high-octane aviation gasoline to industry. He discovered solid fuel for missiles and successfully applied it in industry. For this an official initiative was taken to nominate him for the Nobel Prize in 1957, but the initiative failed since USSR officials of Armenian origin rejected it.  As a result of this discovery, the cosmic missile industry prospered and in 1957 the first satellite was able to enter space for the first time.