R-36O 8K69 (Yuzhnoye Design Bureau)
The R-36O 8K69 is a non-reusable, inactive launch vehicle manufactured by Yuzhnoye Design Bureau (established in 1951). It undertook its inaugural launch on 07/28/1965.
The R-36O was the only orbiting military nuclear weapon ever deployed, although in order to remain legal under international treaties it was a 'fractional orbital' weapon. Although American infrared early warning satellites invalidated the 'surprise attack' component of the concept, 18 missiles were operational from 1969 to 1983.
R-36O 8K69 Specifications
| Variant | 8K69 |
|---|---|
| Length | 32.6 m |
| Diameter | 3 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 182 T |
R-36O 8K69 Launch Record
| Total Launches | 21 |
|---|---|
| Successful Launches | 19 |
| Failed Launches | 2 |
| Consecutive Successful Launches | 14 |
Manufacturer
Director: Alexander Degtyarev
Yuzhnoye Design Office, located in Dnipro, Ukraine, is a designer of satellites and rockets, and formerly of Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) established by Mikhail Yangel in 1951. The Zenit launch vehicle currently launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome but also used to launch from an ocean platform, Odyssey.