Tsyklon-2

The Tsyklon-2 (Ukrainian: Циклон-2, lit. 'Cyclone-2'), also known as Tsiklon-2 and Tsyklon-M (known as SL-11 by the United States DoD), GRAU index 11K69, was a Soviet, later Ukrainian, orbital carrier rocket used from the 1960s to the late 2000s. The rocket had 106 launches, one suborbital and 105 orbital, with only one failure and 92 consecutive successful launches, from 27 December 1973 with the launch of Kosmos 626 to 25 June 2006 with the final flight of the Tsyklon-2, which makes this launcher most reliable within rocket launched more than 100 times.

Tsyklon-2 (Tsiklon-2/Tsyklon-M)

Illustration of Tsyklon-2
Function	Carrier rocket
Manufacturer	Yuzhmash
Country of origin	Soviet Union (Ukraine)
Size
Height	39.7 m (130 ft)
Diameter	3 m (9.8 ft)
Mass	182,000 kg (401,000 lb)
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to low Earth orbit
Mass	2,820 kg (6,220 lb)
Associated rockets
Family	R-36, Tsyklon
Comparable	Delta II
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Baikonur Cosmodrome LC-90
Total launches	106
Success(es)	105
Failure(s)	1
First flight	6 August 1969
Last flight	24 June 2006
Type of passengers/cargo	IS-A/IS-P RORSAT EORSAT
First stage – 11S681
Powered by	1 RD-251
Maximum thrust	2,640 kN (590,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	301 sec
Burn time	120 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Second stage – 11S682
Powered by	1 RD-252
Maximum thrust	940 kN (210,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	317 sec
Burn time	160 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Third stage
Powered by	1 RD-861
Maximum thrust	77.96 kN (17,530 lbf)
Specific impulse	317 sec
Burn time	112 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH

History

A derivative of the R-36 ICBM, and a member of the Tsyklon family, the Tsyklon-2 made its maiden flight on 6 August 1969, and conducted 106 flights, the last one occurring on 24 June 2006. It was the most reliable Soviet/Russian carrier rocket ever used, and launched more than 100 times having failed only once, and the second most reliable carrier rocket overall, behind the Atlas II that was launched only 63 times. Along with other R-36 family member Tsyklon-3, the Tsyklon-2 was retired in favor of new-generation and all-Russian carrier rockets, such as the Angara and Soyuz-2.

Description

Like the Tsyklon-3, the Tsyklon-2 was derived from the R-36 Scarp ICBM. However, it did not have a third stage, like the Tsyklon-3 did, also it was slightly shorter and had a lower weight mass when fueled.

See also

• List of Tsyklon launches
• Angara rocket
• Dnepr rocket
• Tsyklon

External links

• Encyclopedia Astronautica- Tsyklon 2