The Polyot (russian: Полёт, ''flight'') (Also known as Sputnik,
GRAU index 11A59) was an interim
orbit
In celestial mechanics, an orbit is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such as ...
al
carrier rocket
A launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket designed to carry a payload (spacecraft or satellites) from the Earth's surface to outer space. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pads, supported by a launch control center and syste ...
, built to test
ASAT spacecraft. It was required as a stopgap after the cancellation of the
UR-200
The UR-200 was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by Vladimir Chelomey's OKB-52 in the Soviet Union. It was known during the Cold War by the NATO reporting name SS-10 '' Scrag'' and internally by the GRAU index 8K81. The d ...
programme, but before the
Tsyklon
The Tsyklon (Циклон, "Cyclone", also known as Tsiklon), GRAU index 11K67, was a Soviet-designed expendable launch system, primarily used to put Cosmos satellites into low Earth orbit. It is based on the R-36 intercontinental ballistic mi ...
could enter service. Only two were ever launched, the first on 1 November 1963, and the last on 12 April 1964. Both of these flights were successful.
The rocket consisted of a core stage, and four boosters, which were taken from a
Voskhod 11A57 rocket. It was capable of delivering a 1,400
kg payload into a 300 km by 59°
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit around Earth with a period of 128 minutes or less (making at least 11.25 orbits per day) and an eccentricity less than 0.25. Most of the artificial objects in outer space are in LEO, with an altitude never mor ...
.
It is a member of the
R-7 family.
See also
Comparable rockets
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Tsyklon
The Tsyklon (Циклон, "Cyclone", also known as Tsiklon), GRAU index 11K67, was a Soviet-designed expendable launch system, primarily used to put Cosmos satellites into low Earth orbit. It is based on the R-36 intercontinental ballistic mi ...
*
UR-200
The UR-200 was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by Vladimir Chelomey's OKB-52 in the Soviet Union. It was known during the Cold War by the NATO reporting name SS-10 '' Scrag'' and internally by the GRAU index 8K81. The d ...
Related developments
*
R-7 Semyorka
*
Vostok rocket
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 ( Spu ...
*
Voskhod rocket
The Voskhod rocket (russian: Восход, ''"ascent"'', ''"dawn"'') was a derivative of the Soviet R-7 ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme but later used for launching Zenit reconnaissance satellites. It consisted of the M ...
*
Molniya rocket
*
Soyuz rocket
Associated spacecraft
*
ASAT
External links
Encyclopedia Astronautica entry
Space launch vehicles of the Soviet Union
R-7 (rocket family)
Vehicles introduced in 1963
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