Tsyklon-2
The Tsyklon-2 (Cyclone-2), also known as Tsiklon-2 and Tsyklon-M (known as SL-11 by the United States DoD), GRAU index 11K69, was a Ukrainian, previously Soviet orbital carrier rocket used from the 1960s to the late 2000s. The rocket had 106 launches, one suborbital and 105 orbital, with only one failure and 92 consecutive successful launches, from 27 December 1973 with the launch of Kosmos 626 to 25 June 2006 with the final flight of the Tsyklon-2.
 Tsyklon-2 | |
| Function | Carrier rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Yuzhmash |
| Country of origin | Soviet Union (Ukraine) |
| Size | |
| Height | 39.7 m[1] (130.2 ft) |
| Diameter | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Mass | 182,000 kg (401,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | 2,820 kg (6,210 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | R-36, Tsyklon |
| Comparable | Delta II |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | Baikonur Cosmodrome LC-90 |
| Total launches | 106 |
| Success(es) | 105 |
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight | 6 August 1969 |
| Last flight | 24 June 2006 |
| Notable payloads | IS-A/IS-P RORSAT EORSAT |
| First stage – 11S681 | |
| Engines | 1 RD-251 |
| Thrust | 2,640 kN (593,409 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 301 sec |
| Burn time | 120 seconds |
| Fuel | N 2O 4 / UDMH |
| Second stage – 11S682 | |
| Engines | 1 RD-252 |
| Thrust | 940 kN (211,410 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 317 sec |
| Burn time | 160 seconds |
| Fuel | N 2O 4 / UDMH |
| Third stage | |
| Engines | 1 RD-861 |
| Thrust | 77.96 kN (17,526 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 317 sec |
| Burn time | 112 seconds |
| Fuel | N 2O 4 / UDMH |
History
A derivative of the R-36 ICBM, and a member of the Tsyklon family, the Tsyklon-2 made its maiden flight on 6 August 1969, and conducted 106 flights, the last one occurring on 24 June 2006. It was the most reliable Soviet/Russian carrier rocket ever used, having failed only once, and the second most reliable carrier rocket overall, behind the Atlas II.[2] Along with Tsyklon-3, the Tsyklon-2 was retired in favor of new-generation and all-Russian carrier rockets, such as the Angara and Soyuz-2.
Description
Like the Tsyklon-3, the Tsyklon-2 was derived from the R-36 Scarp ICBM. However, it was slightly shorter and had a lower weight mass when fueled.[3]
External links
References
- "Tsiklon-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/tsiklon.htm
- http://www.russianspaceweb.com/tsyklon.html