Tsyklon - Derivatives

Derivatives

Two rockets were derived from the Tsyklon: the Tsyklon-2 and Tsyklon-3, known respectively as the SL-11 and SL-14 by the US DoD. The two stage Tsyklon-2 was first launched August 6, 1969, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, while the Tsyklon-3, which featured a restartable third stage, first launched on June 24, 1977 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

On December 27, 2000, A Tsyklon-3 failed in its attempt to carry six Russian satellites into orbit, plummeting to the earth. An electrical failure in the rocket's third stage was the suspected cause.

The Tsyklon-2 was 39.7 metres (130 ft) long with a fueled mass of 182 tonnes. The Tsyklon-3 is 39.27 metres (128.8 ft) long with a fueled mass of 186 to 190 tonnes.

The Tsyklon-2 made its final flight in 2006, while the Tsyklon-3 was retired after launching the Koronas-Foton satellite on 30 January 2009.

Read more about this topic:  Tsyklon