Vostok-2 (rocket)

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Vostok-2

Vostok-2 rocket
Function	Carrier rocket
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Country of origin	USSR
Size
Stages	Two
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb)
Associated rockets
Family	R-7
Derivative work	Vostok-2M
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Baikonur Site 1/5 & 31/6 Plesetsk Site 41/1
Total launches	45
Success(es)	40
Failure(s)	5
First flight	1 June 1962
Last flight	12 May 1967
Type of passengers/cargo	Zenit
Boosters
No. boosters	4
Powered by	1 RD-107-8D74K
Maximum thrust	995.3 kilonewtons (223,800 lbf)
Burn time	118 seconds
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
First stage
Powered by	1 RD-108-8D75K
Maximum thrust	940 kilonewtons (210,000 lbf)
Burn time	301 seconds
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
Second stage
Powered by	1 RD-0109
Maximum thrust	54.5 kN
Burn time	365 seconds
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
[edit on Wikidata]

The Vostok-2 (Russian: Восток meaning "East"), GRAU index 8A92 was an expendable carrier rocket used by the Soviet Union between 1962 and 1967.^[1] Forty five were launched, of which five failed.^[2][1] It was derived from the earlier Vostok-K, with uprated engines. It was a member of the Vostok family of rockets.^[3]

The Vostok-2 switched to the newer 8K74 core and featured the 8D74K first stage engines from the Molniya 8K78 booster which gave it improved performance over the older Vostok 8K72K.

The Vostok-2 made its maiden flight on 1 June 1962, from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. One of the booster engines shut down 1.8 seconds after launch, and the rocket came down 300 metres (980 ft) away from the pad. The resulting explosion damaged the launch complex, and necessitated delays to several other launches that had been scheduled from that complex, including Vostok 3 and Vostok 4.^[2] Thirteen months later, on 10 July 1963, an almost identical failure occurred. The other three failures were caused by a second stage malfunction, a second stage guidance problem, and a problem with the first stage.

The Vostok-2 was used exclusively to launch Zenit-2 reconnaissance satellites. Launches occurred from sites 1/5 and 31/6 at Baikonur, and Site 41/1 at Plesetsk. In 1967, it was retired in favour of the Voskhod due to the growing mass and complexity of the Zenit satellites.

Vostok-2 was launched forty five times.^[2][1]