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Tsyklon-3

Tsyklon-3 (Tsiklon-3)
Cyclone-3 rocket launching Meteor-3 satellite.png
A Tsyklon-3 launching a Meteor-3 satellite
Function Carrier rocket
Manufacturer Yuzhmash
Country of origin Soviet Union (Ukraine)
Size
Height 39.27 m (128.83 ft)
Diameter 3 m (9.8 ft)
Mass 189,000 kg (416,000 lb)
Stages 3
Capacity
Payload to LEO 4,100 kg (9,000 lb)
Associated rockets
Family R-36, Tsyklon
Derivatives Tsyklon-4
Comparable Delta II
Launch history
Status Retired
Launch sites Plesetsk Cosmodrome LC-32
Total launches 122
Successes 114
Failures 8
First flight 24 June 1977
Last flight 30 January 2009
Notable payloads Tselina
Meteor
Okean
Geo-IK
Strela
First stage - 11K69
Engines 1 RD-261
Thrust 3,032 kN (681,620 lbf)
Specific impulse 301 sec
Burn time 120 seconds
Fuel N2O4/UDMH
Second stage - 11S692
Engines 1 RD-262
Thrust 941 kN (211,545 lbf)
Specific impulse 318 sec
Burn time 160 seconds
Fuel N2O4/UDMH
Third stage - 11S693
Engines 1 RD-861
Thrust 78.70 kN (17,694 lbf)
Specific impulse 317 sec
Burn time 125 seconds
Fuel N2O4/UDMH

The Tsyklon-3, also known as Tsiklon-3, GRAU index 11K68, was a Soviet, and subsequently Ukrainian orbital carrier rocket. A derivative of the R-36 ICBM, and a member of the Tsyklon family, it made its maiden flight on 24 June 1977, and was retired on 30 January 2009. The Ukrainian-built Tsyklon rockets were retired in favour of future all-Russian carrier rockets, such as the Angara, and because they were fuelled by toxic hypergolic propellants.

Ukraine is developing a commercial derivative of the Tsyklon-3, the Tsyklon-4.

On 23 May 2013 at approximately 05:38 UTC, the Ecuadorian satellite NEE-01 Pegaso passed very close to the spent upper stage of a 1985 Tsyklon-3 rocket over the Indian Ocean. While there was no direct collision between the satellite and upper stage, Pegaso is believed to have suffered a "glancing blow" after passing through a debris cloud around the Tsyklon stage and striking one of the small pieces. After the incident, the satellite was found to be "spinning wildly over two of its axes" and unable to communicate with its ground station. Efforts to reestablish control of Pegaso failed, and on 28 August 2013 the decision was made by EXA and the Ecuadorian government to declare the satellite as lost.


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