Cosmos B

by Jean-Jacques Serra

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Origin: MRBM of first generation (Medium Range Ballistic Missile)

The design of Soviet stockable liquid propellant ballistic missiles started in 1954 under management of M.K. Yangel at the SKB 586 of Dniepropetrosk (now NPO Yuzhnoye) in Ukraine. At this time the motorist V.P. Glouchko started to develop a nitric acid - kerosen 4-chamber motor, roviding 650 kN in vacuum.

The first realization of Yangel was the R12 (SS-4 Sandal) of 1800 km range. This single stage rocket was 22.4 m high and 1.65 m diameter, and weighed 28 tons. It was aimed by a 4-chamber RD-214 using nitric acid & kerosen. It burned during 140 seconds providing 635 kN thrust at ground level, 730 kN in vacuum (Isp = 264 s). The tuning of the thrust vector was made with control jets but the rocket also has 4 little directional aerodynamical rudder.

The R12 was launched for the first time on 22 Jun 1957 from Kapustin Yar. It was declared operational in 1959. Its deployment in Cuba in 1962 cause a major international crisis.

Note: the R12 without top stage was used to launch a Vertikal payload of 35 kg at 4400 km on 12 Oct 1967.

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Cosmos 1 (B1 / SL7)

In 1962 the R12 rocket was transformed in a ligh launcher by addition of a top stage. This stage of same diameter as the first one was powered by a RD-119 single-nozzle motor using the unusual couple LOX/UDMH. It provided 105 kN thrust in vacuum (Isp = 352 s) during 260 seconds.

This 49 tons launcher measured 32 m high and could place 0.5 tons into low earth orbit. It was used 144 times successfully between 1962 and 1977 from Kapustin Yar and Plesetsk.

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Launch statistics

	Kapustin Yar	Plesetsk	Total
1962	7		7
1963	4		4
1964	7		7
1965	7		7
1966	7		7
1967	7	6	13
1968	8	8	16
1969	4	10	14
1970	5	13	18
1971	1	11	12
1972	2	10	12
1973	1	9	10
1974		6	6
1975		5	5
1976		4	4
1977		2	2

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Cosmos B launches

#	Launch id	Payload	Launch date	Site	Status/Comment (orbit in perigee x apogee x inc. x period)
1	62008	Cosmos 0001	16 Mar 1962	K	217 x 980 km x 49.0°
2	62009	Cosmos-2	06 Apr 1962	K	212 x 1546 km x 49.0°
3	62013	Cosmos-3	24 Apr 1962	K	229 x 720 km x 49.0°
4	62020	Cosmos-5	28 May 1962	K	203 x 1600 km x 49.1°
5	62028	Cosmos-6	30 Jun 1962	K	274 x 360 km x 49.0°
6	62038	Cosmos-8	18 Aug 1962	K	256 x 604 km x 49.0°
7	62056	Cosmos-11	20 Oct 1962	K	245 x 921 km x 49.0°
8	63010	Cosmos-14	13 Apr 1963	K	265 x 512 km x 49.0°
9	63017	Cosmos-17	22 May 1963	K	260 x 788 km x 49.0°
10	63033	Cosmos-19	06 Aug 1963	K	270 x 519 km x 49.0°
11	63050	Cosmos-23	13 Dec 1963	K	240 x 613 km x 49.0°
12	64010	Cosmos-25	27 Feb 1964	K	272 x 526 km x 49.0°
13	64013	Cosmos-26	18 Mar 1964	K	271 x 403 km x 49.0°
14	64028	Cosmos-31	06 Jun 1964	K	228x 508 km x 49.0°
15	64042	Cosmos-36	30 Jul 1964	K	259x 503 km x 49.0°
16	64050	Cosmos-42/43	22 Aug 1964	K	232x 1099 km x 49.0°
17	64069	Cosmos-49	24 Oct 1964	K	260x 490 km x 49.0°
18	64080	Cosmos-51	10 Dec 1964	K	264x 554 km x 48.8°
19	65006	Cosmos-53	30 Jan 1965	K	227 x 1192 km x 48.8°
20	65052	Cosmos-70	02 Jul 1965	K	229 x 1154 km x 48.8°
21	65059	Cosmos-76	23 Jul 1965	K	261 x 530 km x 48.8°
22	65084	Cosmos-93	19 Oct 1965	K	220 x 522 km x 48.4°
23	65088	Cosmos-95	04 Nov 1965	K	207 x 521 km x 48.4°
24	65095	Cosmos-97	26 Nov 1965	K	220 x 2100 km x 49.0°
25	65107	Cosmos-101	21 Dec 1965	K	260 x 550 km x 49.0°
26	66004	Cosmos-106	25 Jan 1966	K	290 x 564 km x 48.4°
27	66011	Cosmos-108	11 Feb 1966	K	227 x 865 km x 48.9°
28	66036	Cosmos-116	26 Apr 1966	K	294 x 478 km x 48.4°
29	66043	Cosmos-119	24 May 1966	K	219 x 1305 km x 48.5°
30	66061	Cosmos-123	08 Jul 1966	K	263 x 529 km x 48.8°
31	66112	Cosmos-135	12 Dec 1966	K	259 x 662 km x 48.5°
32	66117	Cosmos-137	21 Dec 1966	K	230 x 1720 km x 48.8°
33	67013	Cosmos-142	14 Feb 1967	K	214 x 1362 km x 48.4°
34	67019	Cosmos-145	03 Mar 1967	K	220 x 2135 km x 48.4°
35	67023	Cosmos-148	16 Mar 1967	P	275 x 436 km x 71.0°
36	67024	Cosmos-149	21 Mar 1967	K	248 x 297 km x 48.4°
37	67028	Cosmos-152	25 Mar 1967	P	283 x 512 km x 71.0°
38	67056	Cosmos-163	05 Jun 1967	K	261 x 616 km x 48.4°
39	67059	Cosmos-165	12 Jun 1967	P	211 x 1542 km x 81.9°
40	67061	Cosmos-166	16 Jun 1967	K	283 x 578 km x 48.4°
41	67081	Cosmos-173	24 Aug 1967	P	280 x 528 km x 71.0°
42	67086	Cosmos-176	12 Sep 1967	P	206 x 1581 km x 81.9°
43	67115	Cosmos-191	21 Nov 1967	P	281 x 518 km x 71.0°
44	67125	Cosmos-196	19 Dec 1967	K	224 x 884 km x 49.0°
45	67126	Cosmos-197	26 Dec 1967	K	219 x 502 km x 48.5°
46	68010	Cosmos-202	20 Feb 1968	K	220 x 502 km x 48.4°
47	68015	Cosmos-204	05 Mar 1968	P	282 x 873 km x 71.0°
48	68028	Cosmos-211	09 Apr 1968	P	210 x 1574 km x 81.9°
49	68033	Cosmos-215	19 Apr 1968	K	261 x 426 km x 48.5°
50	68038	Cosmos-219	26 Apr 1968	K	222 x 1770 km x 48.4°
51	68043	Cosmos-221	24 May 1968	K	220 x 2108 km x 48.4°
52	68044	Cosmos-222	30 May 1968	P	277 x 528 km x 71.0°
53	68048	Cosmos-225	12 Jun 1968	K	257 x 530 km x 48.4°
54	68056	Cosmos-230	05 Jul 1968	K	290 x 580 km x 48.5°
55	68061	Cosmos-233	18 Jul 1968	P	210 x 2545 km x 82.0°
56	68079	Cosmos-242	20 Sep 1968	P	280 x 440 km x 71.0°
57	68083	Cosmos-245	03 Oct 1968	P	282 x 509 km x 71.0°
58	68107	Cosmos-257	03 Dec 1968	P	282 x 470 km x 71.0°
59	68113	Cosmos-259	14 Dec 1968	K	219 x 1353 km x 48.5°
60	68117	Cosmos-261	19 Dec 1968	P	217 x 670 km x 71.0°
61	68119	Cosmos-262	26 Dec 1968	K	263 x 818 km x 48.5°
62	69012	Cosmos-265	07 Feb 1969	P	283 x 485 km x 71.0°
63	69020	Cosmos-268	05 Mar 1969	K	219 x 2186 km x 48.4°
64	69031	Cosmos-275	28 Mar 1969	P	284 x 805 km x 71.0°
65	69033	Cosmos-277	04 Apr 1969	P	280 x 494 km x 71.0°
66	69047	Cosmos-283	27 May 1969	P	210 x 1539 km x 82.0°
67	69049	Cosmos-285	03 Jun 1969	P	279 x 518 km x 71.0°
68	69073	Cosmos-295	22 Aug 1969	P	282 x 500 km x 71.0°
69	69088	Intercosmos 01	14 Oct 1969	K	260 x 640 km x 48.4°
70	69090	Cosmos-303	18 Oct 1969	P	282 x 4920 km x 71.0°
71	69094	Cosmos-307	24 Oct 1969	K	220 x 2178 km x 48.4°
72	69096	Cosmos-308	04 Nov 1969	P	281 x 422 km x 71.0°
73	69102	Cosmos-311	24 Nov 1969	P	284 x 496 km x 71.0°
74	69106	Cosmos-314	11 Dec 1969	P	282 x 491 km x 71.0°
75	69110	Intercosmos-2	25 Dec 1969	K	206 x 1200 km x 48.4°
76	70004	Cosmos-319	15 Jan 1970	P	209 x 1537 km x 82.0°
77	70005	Cosmos-320	16 Jan 1970	K	240 x 343 km x 48.5°
78	70006	Cosmos-321	20 Jan 1970	P	280 x 507 km x 71.0°
79	70014	Cosmos-324	27 Feb 1970	P	446 x 705 km x 71.0°
80	70020	Cosmos-327	18 Mar 1970	P	269 x 822 km x 70.9°
81	70033	Cosmos-334	23 Apr 1970	P	272 x 483 km x 70.9°
82	70035	Cosmos-335	24 Apr 1970	K	249 x 400 km x 48.4°
83	70043	Cosmos-347	12 Jun 1970	K	215 x 2050 km x 48.4°
84	70044	Cosmos-348	13 Jun 1970	P	200 x 652 km x 71.0°
85	70051	Cosmos-351	27 Jun 1970	P	270 x 467 km x 71.0°
86	70057	Intercosmos-3	07 Aug 1970	K	200 x 1295 km x 48.4°
87	70059	Cosmos-356	10 Aug 1970	P	232 x 573 km x 81.9°
88	70063	Cosmos-357	19 Aug 1970	P	272 x 476 km x 71.0°
89	70073	Cosmos-362	16 Sep 1970	P	272 x 817 km x 71.0°
90	70081	Cosmos-369	08 Oct 1970	P	269 x 505 km x 70.9°
91	70084	Intercosmos-4	14 Oct 1970	K	251 x 627 km x 48.4°
92	70100	Cosmos-380	24 Nov 1970	P	199 x 1519 km x 81.9°
93	70112	Cosmos-388	18 Dec 1970	P	270 x 505 km x 71.0°
94	71002	Cosmos-391	14 Jan 1971	P	267 x 803 km x 70.9°
95	71007	Cosmos-393	26 Jan 1971	P	274 x 484 km x 71.0°
96	71037	Cosmos-408	24 Apr 1971	P	211 x1542 km x 81.8°
97	71044	Cosmos-421	19 May 1971	P	283 x 492 km x 70.9°
98	71047	Cosmos-423	27 May 1971	P	282 x 511 km x 71.0°
99	71072	Cosmos-435	27 Aug 1971	P	282 x 505 km x 71.0°
100	71079	Cosmos-440	24 Sep 1971	P	282 x 814 km x 71.0°
101	71090	Cosmos-453	19 Oct 1971	P	281 x 522 km x 71.0°
102	71097	Cosmos-455	17 Nov 1971	P	282 x 516 km x 71.0°
103	71101	Cosmos-458	29 Nov 1971	P	281 x 523 km x 71.0°
104	71104	Intercosmos-5	02 Dec 1971	K	205 x 1200 km x 48.4°
105	71113	Cosmos-467	17 Dec 1971	P	279 x 502 km x 71.0°
106	72004	Cosmos-472	25 Jan 1972	P	207 x 1568 km x 82.0°
107	72020	Cosmos-481	25 Mar 1972	P	279 x 540 km x 71.0°
108	72023	Cosmos-485	11 Apr 1972	P	280 x 506 km x 71.0°
109	72033	Cosmos-487	21 Apr 1972	P	278 x 531 km x 71.0°
110	72047	Intercosmos-7	30 Jun 1972	K	267 x 568 km x 48.4°
111	72048	Cosmos-497	30 Jun 1972	P	282 x 812 km x 71.0°
112	72050	Cosmos-498	05 Jul 1972	P	282 x 511 km x 71.0°
113	72054	Cosmos-501	12 Jul 1972	K	222 x 2149 km x 48.5°
114	72078	Cosmos-523	05 Oct 1972	P	283 x 507 km x 71.0°
115	72080	Cosmos-524	11 Oct 1972	P	277 x 537 km x 71.0°
116	72084	Cosmos-526	25 Oct 1972	P	282 x 511 km x 71.0°
117	72094	Intercosmos-8	30 Nov 1972	P	214 x 679 km x 71.0°
118	73004	Cosmos-545	24 Jan 1973	P	279 x 521 km x 71.0°
119	73020	Cosmos-553	12 Apr 1973	P	262 x 519 km x 71.0°
120	73022	Intercosmos-9	19 Apr 1973	K	202 x 1551 km x 48.4°
121	73029	Cosmos-558	17 May 1973	P	279 x 526 km x 71.0°
122	73035	Cosmos-562	05 Jun 1973	P	282 x 510 km x 71.0°
123	73057	Cosmos-580	22 Aug 1973	P	283 x 518 km x 71.0°
124	73075	Cosmos-601	16 Oct 1973	P	210 x 1561 km x 82.0°
125	73091	Cosmos-608	20 Nov 1973	P	281 x 528 km x 71.0°
126	73094	Cosmos-611	28 Nov 1973	P	270 x 507 km x 71.0°
127	73099	Cosmos-615	13 Dec 1973	P	280 x 859 km x 71.0°
128	74010	Cosmos-633	27 Feb 1974	P	280 x 516 km x 71.0°
129	74012	Cosmos-634	05 Mar 1974	P	281 x 516 km x 71.0°
130	74047	Cosmos-662	26 Jun 1974	P	290 x 795 km x 70.9°
131	74058	Cosmos-668	25 Jul 1974	P	281 x 519 km x 71.0°
132	74074	Cosmos-686	26 Sep 1974	P	281 x 515 km x 71.0°
133	74091	Cosmos-695	20 Nov 1974	P	283 x 493 km x 71.0°
134	75003	Cosmos-703	21 Jan 1975	P	207 x 1545 km x 82.0°
135	75006	Cosmos-705	28 Jan 1975	P	281 x 508 km x 71.0°
136	75026	Cosmos-725	08 Apr 1975	P	283 x 540 km x 71.0°
137	75058	Cosmos-745	24 Jun 1975	P	274 x 540 km x 71.0°
138	75067	Cosmos-750	17 Jul 1975	P	281 x 830 km x 71.0°
139	76012	Cosmos-801	05 Feb 1976	P	290 x 723 km x 71.0°
140	76044	Cosmos-818	18 May 1976	P	281 x 506 km x 71.0°
141	76083	Cosmos-849	13 Aug 1976	P	276 x 889 km x 71.0°
142	76084	Cosmos-850	26 Aug 1976	P	280 x 518 km x 71.0°
143	77025	Cosmos-901	05 Apr 1977	P	279 x 845 km x 71.0°
144	77051	Cosmos-919	18 Jun 1977	P	278 x 847 km x 71.0°

Notes: K for Kapustin Yar, P for Plesetsk launches

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