Tsyklon

Cyclone [ ʦɪklɔn ] also Tsiklon, Tsyklon (Russian Циклон for cyclones, Cyclone English, Tsyklon ) is a Russian rocket type, based on the R-36 ICBM. It has been developed since 1965 in the Soviet Union for military purposes, and is used today by Russia and Ukraine for orbital transfer of satellites.

The vast majority of applications were and are of a military nature So initially different orbital warheads ( FOBS ) were tested, and later brought reconnaissance satellites in orbit, including radar reconnaissance satellites of the type -A U.S. nuclear reactors as an energy source. The cyclone is produced at KB Yuzhnoye / PO Juschmash in Dnepropetrovsk / Ukraine.

Versions

The development of two-stage cyclone or cyclone -1 ( GRAU index 11K64 ) began in 1965 in the Soviet Union on the basis of the R- 16th To convert this to a launcher, only minor modifications were necessary and so there were already 1967, the first test runs. By 1971 there were 25 starts in suborbital tracks to 1000 km altitude.

This was followed in 1967 the further developed version cyclone -2A ( NATO reporting name SL -11, GRAU index 11K67 ) is now based on the more powerful R-36, which has now been used for satellite launches. From 27 October 1967 to January 25, 1969 were made out of eight attempts to start from Baikonur, of which 6 were successful. The payload into low earth orbit in 185 km altitude with an inclination of 52 ° was approximately 3,000 kg. Power was in the first stage ( name: 11S691, Length: 18.9 m, diameter 3.0 m, mass: 122.3 t) is a RD -251 engine, which in turn consists of three RD -250 engines ( each with two combustion chambers and a common turbo pump ) in a common frame was thrust. When attitude control thrusters were four RD -68 with 28.5 kN of thrust used. In the second stage ( name: 11S692, length: 10,86 m, diameter: 3.0 m Weight: 50.4 t) was a RD -252 ( with two combustion chambers and a single turbo pump) with 941 kN thrust and a burning time of 160 seconds to use. The first stage was shut down by command simultaneously with the ignition of the second stage, whereby the coupled using lattice design first stage is practically blown off.

At about the same time, the two-stage cyclone -2M (now simply called Zyklon -2, GRAU index 11K69 ) developed in 1969 its first start and even today (last 2006) is in use. The load capacity is 2820 kg for a 200 -km orbit at an inclination of 65 °. As fuel is used, as with all missiles in this series, UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide. The payloads usually had its own drive (kick step) to Erreichnung its orbit. The first launch took place in 1969 in Baikonur. Cyclone 2 is started only in Baikonur and has been used exclusively for military payloads, such as the Marine reconnaissance satellites with US-A nuclear reactor as a power supply. Since 1988, the single payloads ELINT reconnaissance satellite of the type P U.S. or US- PU were. A total of 106 rockets of this type have been launched, of which 105 are successful. It is recently with three levels and greater payload fairing also available in the form of improved cyclone -2K, but not yet was used.

The three-stage, slightly stronger cyclone -3 ( NATO code SL -14, GRAU index 11K68 ) was developed in the 1970s. The grant for the development of the third stage (called S5H, length: 2,72 m, diameter: 2.42 m, weight: 4,6 t, Burn time: 126 s ). Was January 2, 1970 This was from the re-entry of the R- 36O derived and is smaller in relation to the other two stages. The Cyclone -3 has a payload of 4100 kg into a 200 km orbit and could allow the Vostok launcher replaced. The first launch took place on 24 June 1977 in Plesetsk instead, the rocket is until today (last December 24, 2004 ) in use and is started only in Plesetsk. It is no longer produced today, but there are still some copies for future use exists. As they carried payloads such as the Strela communications satellites ( six pieces at once), Meteor weather satellites Intercosmos satellites, the French / Soviet satellite Oreol and electronic reconnaissance satellites of the type Zelina -D. Overall, the rocket launched so far 121 times, including eight false starts.

An improved version of the Ukraine is a cyclone -4 planned with larger and heavier school ( 13.4 t instead of 4.6 t ), larger payload fairing and digital control system to be launched in 2015 by the Brazilian easy starting place Alcântara satellites in geostationary transfer orbits.

Specifications

Cyclone 3