Vostok (rocket family)

Vostok

Vostok 8K72K rocket on display in Moscow at the All Russia Exhibition Centre
Function	Carrier rocket
Manufacturer	RKK Energia
Country of origin	USSR
Size
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to LEO	4,725 kilograms (10,417 lb)
Associated rockets
Family	R-7
Comparable	Atlas Titan
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Baikonur: LC-1/5, 31/6 Plesetsk: LC-41/1, 43/3, 43/4
Total launches	Vostok-L: 4 Vostok-K: 13 Vostok-2: 45 Vostok-2M: 94 Soyuz/Vostok: 2
Successes	Vostok-L: 3 Vostok-K: 11 Vostok-2: 40 Vostok-2M: 92 Soyuz/Vostok: 2
Failures	Vostok-L: 1 Vostok-K: 2 Vostok-2: 5 Vostok-2M: 2
First flight	15 May 1960 (Vostok-L)
Last flight	29 August 1991 (Vostok-2M)
Notable payloads	Vostok Zenit Meteor
Boosters (Vostok-K)
No. boosters	4
Engines	1 RD-107-8D74-1959
Thrust	970.86 kN
Total thrust	3,883.4 kN
Burn time	118 seconds
Fuel	RP-1/LOX
First stage (Vostok-K)
Engines	1 RD-108-8D75-1959
Thrust	912 kN
Burn time	301 seconds
Fuel	RP-1/LOX
Second stage (Vostok-K)
Engines	1 RD-0109
Thrust	54.5 kN
Burn time	365 seconds
Fuel	RP-1/LOX

Vostok (Russian: Восток, translated as "East") was a family of rockets derived from the Soviet R-7 Semyorka ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme. This family of rockets launched the first artificial satellite (Sputnik 1) and the first manned spacecraft (Vostok) in human history. It was a subset of the R-7 family of rockets.

On March 18, 1980 a Vostok-2M rocket exploded on its launch pad at Plesetsk during a fueling operation, killing 48 people. An investigation into a similar – but avoided – accident revealed that the substitution of lead-based for tin-based solder in hydrogen peroxide filters allowed the breakdown of the H₂O₂, thus causing the resultant explosion.

Variants

The major versions of the rocket were:

• Luna 8K72 - used to launch the early Luna spacecraft
• Vostok-L 8K72 - Variant of the Luna, used to launch prototype Vostok spacecraft
• Vostok-K 8K72K - a refined version of the above. This was the version actually used for human spaceflight
• Vostok-2 8A92 - used for launching Zenit reconnaissance satellites throughout the 1960s
• Vostok-2M 8A92M - modified version for launching Meteor weather satellites into higher orbits.
• Soyuz/Vostok 11A110 - hybrid of Soyuz and Vostok rockets used as an interim for two launches

Vostok 8K72K

• Stage number: 1 - Strap-on boosters; 4 x Vostok 8K72K-0
  • Gross mass: 43,300 kg
  • Empty mass: 3,710 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 4 x 99,000 kgf (971 kN) = 3.88 MN
  • Isp: 313 seconds (3.07 km/s)
  • Burn time: 118 s
  • Isp(sl): 256 seconds (2.51 km/s)
  • Diameter: 2.68 m
  • Span: 8.35 m
  • Length: 19.00 m
  • Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
  • Engines: 1 x RD-107-8D74-1959 per booster = 4
• Stage number: 2 - Core stage; 1 x Vostok 8K72K-1
  • Gross mass: 100,400 kg
  • Empty mass: 6,800 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 912 kN
  • Isp: 315 seconds (3.09 km/s)
  • Burn time: 301 s
  • Isp(sl): 248 seconds (2.43 km/s)
  • Diameter: 2.99 m
  • Length: 28.00 m
  • Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
  • Engine: 1 x RD-108-8D75-1959
• Stage number: 3 - Final stage; 1 x Vostok 8K72K-2
  • Gross mass: 7,775 kg
  • Empty mass: 1,440 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 54.5 kN
  • Isp: 326 seconds (3.20 km/s)
  • Burn time: 365 s
  • Diameter: 2.56 m
  • Span: 2.56 m
  • Length: 2.84 m
  • Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
  • Engine: 1 x RD-0109

Gallery

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  Vostok rocket
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  Vostok rocket

See also

• Vostok 1
• Vostok programme
• Vostok spacecraft