Vostok (rocket family) explained

Vostok
Function:	Carrier rocket
Manufacturer:	RKK Energia
Country-Origin:	Soviet Union
Stages:	3
Capacities:
Mass:	NaNkg (-2,147,483,648lb)
Family:	R-7
Comparable:	Atlas Titan
Status:	Retired
Sites:	Baikonur LC-1/5, 31/6 Plesetsk: LC-41/1, 43/3, 43/4
Launches:	Vostok-L: 4 Vostok-K: 13 Vostok-2: 45 Vostok-2M: 94 Soyuz/Vostok: 2
Success:	Vostok-L: 3 Vostok-K: 11 Vostok-2: 40 Vostok-2M: 92 Soyuz/Vostok: 2
Fail:	Vostok-L: 1 Vostok-K: 2 Vostok-2: 5 Vostok-2M: 2
First:	15 May 1960 (Vostok-L)
Last:	29 August 1991 (Vostok-2M)
Payloads:	Vostok Zenit Meteor
Stagedata:	Type: stage Diff: Block B, V, G, D Stageno: First Thrust: 970.86 kN Total: 3,883.4 kN Burntime: 118 seconds Type: stage Diff: Block A Stageno: Second Thrust: 912 kN Burntime: 301 seconds Type: stage Diff: Block E Stageno: Third Thrust: 54.5 kN Burntime: 365 seconds

Vostok (Russian: Восток, translated as "East") was a family of rockets derived from the Soviet R-7 Semyorka ICBM and was designed for the human spaceflight programme. This family of rockets launched the first artificial satellite (Sputnik 1) and the first crewed 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 similarbut avoidedaccident 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^[1]
• Vostok-K 8K72K – a refined version of the above. This was the version actually used for human spaceflight^[2]
• Vostok-2 8A92 – used for launching Zenit reconnaissance satellites throughout the 1960s^[3]
• Vostok-2M 8A92M – modified version for launching Meteor weather satellites into higher orbits.^[4]
• Soyuz/Vostok 11A110 – hybrid of Soyuz and Vostok rockets used as an interim for two launches^[5]

Vostok 8K72K

• First Stage — Block B, V, G, D (four strap-on boosters)
  • Gross mass: 43,300 kg
  • Empty mass: 3,710 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 4 x 99,000 kgf (971 kN) = 3.88 MN
  • Isp

• • Burn time: 118 s
  • Isp(sl):
  • 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
• Second Stage — Block A (core stage)
  • Gross mass: 100,400 kg
  • Empty mass: 6,800 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 912 kN
  • Isp:
  • Burn time: 301 s
  • Isp(sl):
  • Diameter: 2.99 m
  • Length: 28.00 m
  • Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
  • Engine: 1 x RD-108-8D75-1959
• Third Stage — Block E
  • Gross mass: 7,775 kg
  • Empty mass: 1,440 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 54.5 kN
  • Isp:
  • Burn time: 365 s
  • Diameter: 2.56 m
  • Span: 2.56 m
  • Length: 2.84 m
  • Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
  • Engine: 1 x RD-0109

See also

• Vostok 1
• Vostok programme
• Vostok spacecraft

Notes and References

1. Web site: Vostok-L 8K72 . 2023-07-30 . www.astronautix.com.
2. Web site: Vostok 8K72K . 2023-07-30 . www.astronautix.com.
3. Web site: Vostok 8A92 . 2023-07-30 . www.astronautix.com.
4. Web site: Vostok 8A92M . 2023-07-30 . www.astronautix.com.
5. Web site: Soyuz 11A510 . 2023-07-30 . www.astronautix.com.