The Vostok-2M (Russian: Восток meaning "East"), GRAU index8A92M was an expendablecarrier rocket used by the Soviet Union between 1964 and 1991. Ninety-three were launched, of which one failed.[1] Another was destroyed before launch.[2] It was originally built as a specialised version of the earlier Vostok-2, for injecting lighter payloads into higher Sun-synchronous orbits. It was a member of the R-7 family of rockets, and the last Vostok.
The Vostok-2M made its maiden flight on 28 August 1964, from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, successfully placing Kosmos 44, a Meteorweather satellite into orbit. Its only launch failure occurred on 1 February 1969, when the launch of a Meteor failed due to an upper stage problem.
At 16:01 GMT on 18 March 1980, a Vostok-2M exploded during fueling at PlesetskSite 43/4, ahead of the launch of a Tselina-D satellite, killing 48 people who were working on the rocket at the time. A filter in a hydrogen peroxide tank of the third stage had accidentally been soldered with lead instead of tin, with the catalytically active lead solder on the filter causing the explosion upon contact hydrogen peroxide.[3] As a consequence, the H2O2 broke down, overheated, and melted the solder, causing pieces to fall into the H2O2 storage tank and cause a runaway chemical reaction. This led to a fire inside the third stage and eventual explosion which resulted in the complete destruction of the launch vehicle and severe pad damage (LC-43 did not host another launch for three years).
Vostok-2M launches occurred from Site 31/6 at Baikonur, and Sites 41/1 and 43 at Plesetsk.[1] It is unclear if any were launched from Site 1/5 at Baikonur. The Vostok-2M was retired in 1991, in favour of standardisation on the Soyuz-U and U2 rockets. The final flight was conducted on 29 August, and carried the IRS-1B satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Referencesedit
^ ab"Vostok-2M (8A92M)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
^Wade, Mark. . Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
^Boris Yevseyevich Chertok (2006-06-01). Rockets and People: Creating a rocket industry(PDF). Government Printing Office. pp. 636–640. ISBN9780160766725.
January 01, 1970
vostok, russian, Восток, meaning, east, grau, index, 8a92m, expendable, carrier, rocket, used, soviet, union, between, 1964, 1991, ninety, three, were, launched, which, failed, another, destroyed, before, launch, originally, built, specialised, version, earlie. The Vostok 2M Russian Vostok meaning East GRAU index 8A92M was an expendable carrier rocket used by the Soviet Union between 1964 and 1991 Ninety three were launched of which one failed 1 Another was destroyed before launch 2 It was originally built as a specialised version of the earlier Vostok 2 for injecting lighter payloads into higher Sun synchronous orbits It was a member of the R 7 family of rockets and the last Vostok Vostok 2MVostok 2M rocketFunctionCarrier rocketManufacturerOKB 1Country of originUSSRSizeStagesTwoCapacityPayload to SSOMass3 800 kilograms 8 400 lb Associated rocketsFamilyR 7Launch historyStatusRetiredLaunch sitesBaikonur Site 31 6Plesetsk Site 41 1 amp 43Total launches93Success es 92Failure s 1First flight28 August 1964Last flight29 August 1991Type of passengers cargoMeteorResursTselina DBoostersNo boosters4Powered by1 RD 107 8D74KMaximum thrust995 3 kilonewtons 223 800 lbf Burn time120 secondsPropellantRP 1 LOXFirst stagePowered by1 RD 108 8D75KMaximum thrust940 4 kilonewtons 211 400 lbf Burn time305 secondsPropellantRP 1 LOXSecond stagePowered by1 RD 0109Maximum thrust54 52 kilonewtons 12 260 lbf Burn time400 secondsPropellantRP 1 LOX edit on Wikidata Vostok 2M in Korolyov Moscow Oblast The Vostok 2M made its maiden flight on 28 August 1964 from Site 31 6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome successfully placing Kosmos 44 a Meteor weather satellite into orbit Its only launch failure occurred on 1 February 1969 when the launch of a Meteor failed due to an upper stage problem At 16 01 GMT on 18 March 1980 a Vostok 2M exploded during fueling at Plesetsk Site 43 4 ahead of the launch of a Tselina D satellite killing 48 people who were working on the rocket at the time A filter in a hydrogen peroxide tank of the third stage had accidentally been soldered with lead instead of tin with the catalytically active lead solder on the filter causing the explosion upon contact hydrogen peroxide 3 As a consequence the H2O2 broke down overheated and melted the solder causing pieces to fall into the H2O2 storage tank and cause a runaway chemical reaction This led to a fire inside the third stage and eventual explosion which resulted in the complete destruction of the launch vehicle and severe pad damage LC 43 did not host another launch for three years Vostok 2M launches occurred from Site 31 6 at Baikonur and Sites 41 1 and 43 at Plesetsk 1 It is unclear if any were launched from Site 1 5 at Baikonur The Vostok 2M was retired in 1991 in favour of standardisation on the Soyuz U and U2 rockets The final flight was conducted on 29 August and carried the IRS 1B satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation References edit a b Vostok 2M 8A92M Gunter s Space Page Retrieved 2023 10 23 Wade Mark Vostok 8A92M Encyclopedia Astronautica Archived from the original on 2009 03 06 Retrieved 2009 04 15 Boris Yevseyevich Chertok 2006 06 01 Rockets and People Creating a rocket industry PDF Government Printing Office pp 636 640 ISBN 9780160766725 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vostok 2M amp oldid 1184755173, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
