Based on the R-12 Kosmos Kosmos (
GRAU Index:
63S1, It launched the
Kosmos 106 and
Kosmos 97 satellites, from Area 86 at
Kapustin Yar.
Kosmos-2I Kosmos-2I (GRAU Index:
11K63,), derived from the
R-12 missile, was used to orbit satellites between 1961 and 1977. It was superseded by the
R-14 derived Kosmos-3 and Kosmos-3M.
Based on the R-14 Kosmos-1 The
Kosmos-1 (GRAU Index:
65S3, also known as
Cosmos-1) was derived from the R-14 missile and used between 1964 and 1965, being quickly replaced by the
Kosmos-3. Eight Kosmos-1 were flown, all launched from
Site 41/15 at the
Baikonur Cosmodrome. Initial development was authorised in October 1961, leading to a maiden flight on 18 August 1964, carrying three
Strela satellites. Strela-1 satellites were flown on seven flights, three on each of the first four and five on the next three. The eighth and final flight carried one. All flights were successful except the second. also known as
Cosmos-3), derived from the R-14 missile, was used to orbit satellites between 1966 and 1968, being quickly replaced by the modernised Kosmos-3M. Six were flown, four as orbital carrier rockets, and two on sub-orbital flights. All launches occurred from Site 41/15 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Kosmos-3 made its maiden flight on 16 November 1966, carrying a Strela-2 satellite. Strela-2 satellites were flown on four flights, two of which failed. Two further, sub-orbital launches were conducted with payloads, both of which were successful.
Kosmos-3M The Kosmos-3M was a liquid-fueled two-stage launch vehicle, first launched in 1967 and with over 420 successful launches to its name. The Kosmos-3M used
UDMH fuel and
AK27I oxidizer (red fuming nitric acid) to lift roughly of payload into orbit. It differed from the earlier Kosmos-3 in its finer control of the second-stage burn, allowing operators to tune the thrust and even channel it through nozzles that helped orient the rocket for the launching of multiple satellites at one time.
PO Polyot manufactured these launch vehicles in the Russian city of
Omsk for decades. It was originally scheduled to be retired from service in 2011; however, in April 2010 the Commander of the Russian Space Forces confirmed that it would be retired by the end of 2010. One further launch, with
Kanopus-ST, was planned; however, this was cancelled in late 2012 as the launch vehicle had exceeded its design life while in storage ahead of the launch.
Kosmos-3MR The
Kosmos-3MR rocket (GRAU Index:
K65M-R and
K65M-RB, also known as
Cosmos-3MR), was an adaptation of the Kosmos-3M rocket intended for suborbital and a single orbital launch for
BOR-4 and
BOR-5 subscale tests of
Spiral and
Buran crewed spaceplanes. == Launches ==