Rokot
Soviet/Russian launch vehicle derived from the UR-100N ICBM.
Rokot (Рокот, meaning Rumble or Boom), also transliterated Rockot, was a Soviet Union (later Russian) space launch vehicle based on the UR-100N (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile. It could place a payload of 1,950 kg into a 200 km Earth orbit at 63° inclination. The vehicle was supplied and operated by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center.
Quick Facts
- Function
- Orbital launch vehicle
- Manufacturer
- Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
- Country-origin
- Soviet Union
- Height
- 29 m / 95 ft 2 in
- Diameter
- 2.5 m / 8 ft 2 in
- Mass
- 107,000 kg / 235,895 lb
- Stages
- 3
- Sites
- Baikonur, 175/1; Plesetsk, 133/3
Facts from the source article.
Specifications
The Rokot launch vehicle weighed 107 tonnes, stood 29 metres tall, and measured 2.5 metres at its widest point. This three-stage rocket used liquid propellant. Its first two stages came from the Soviet UR-100N ICBM: the first stage employed an RD-0233 and RD-0234 engine set, while the second used an RD-0235. The third stage was a Briz-KM, which weighed about 6 tonnes when fuelled and could fly for seven hours, restarting its engine up to six times to deploy satellites into different orbits. All stages burned unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine fuel with dinitrogen tetroxide oxidiser. The similar Strela rocket also derives from the SS-19.
History
The first suborbital test launch succeeded on 20 November 1990 from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Rokot placed its first satellite into Earth orbit on 26 December 1994. In 1995, Khrunichev formed a company with German DaimlerBenz Aerospace to market Rokot commercially, later renamed Eurockot Launch Services. Eurockot purchased 45 Rokots from Russian strategic missile forces. In 2000, German company Astrium GmbH, a shareholder of Arianespace, bought a 51% share of Eurockot, with Khrunichev holding 49%. An open launch pad was built at Plesetsk Cosmodrome instead of using existing silos at Baikonur, due to concerns that silo-launch noise could damage satellites. At the new pad, Rokot was moved vertically to the launch tower, and the payload was lifted by crane atop the lower stages, differing from the horizontal assembly and rail transfer typical of other Russian launchers. The first Plesetsk launch occurred on 16 May 2000.
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