Polyot (rocket)

Not to be confused with Polyus (spacecraft).

The Polyot (Russian: Полёт, lit. 'flight', GRAU index: 11A59) was an interim orbital carrier rocket, built to test ASAT spacecraft. It was required as a stopgap after the cancellation of the UR-200 programme, but before the Tsyklon 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.

Polyot (11A59)

Polyot rocket
Function	Small-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Country of origin	Soviet Union
Size
Height	30 m (98 ft)
Diameter	2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
Mass	277,000 kg (611,000 lb)
Stages	1
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Altitude	300 km (190 mi)
Orbital inclination	59°
Mass	1,400 kg (3,100 lb)
Associated rockets
Family	R-7
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Baikonur, Site 31/6
Total launches	2
Success(es)	2
First flight	1 November 1963
Last flight	12 April 1964
Boosters (First stage) – Block B, V, G & D[a]
No. boosters	4
Powered by	1 × RD-107-8D74K
Maximum thrust	995.3 kN (223,800 lbf)
Total thrust	3,981.2 kN (895,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	257 s (2.52 km/s)
Burn time	119 seconds
Propellant	LOX / RP-1
Second stage (core) – Block A
Powered by	1 × RD-108
Maximum thrust	294 kN (66,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	330 s (3.2 km/s)
Burn time	240 seconds
Propellant	LOX / RP-1

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 kilograms (3,100 lb) payload into a 300 kilometres (190 mi) by 59° Low Earth orbit.

It is a member of the R-7 family.

Notes

1. This is a transliteration of the second through fifth letters of the Cyrillic alphabet (Б, В, Г, Д). A sense-for-sense translation would correspond to the second through fifth letters of the Latin alphabet, 'Block B, C, D & E'.