Launch Alert | Maiden Flight
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LAUNCH CENTER

Launch Image
Success
Fri Mar 22 1968
Soviet Space Program

US-AO 4

Launch Successful
LAUNCH TIME
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RECOVERY OVERVIEW

Location

No Recovery Specified

Type

No Recovery Specified

Rocket Details

Name:

Tsiklon-2A

Description:

The Tsyklon was a Soviet-designed expendable launch system, primarily used to put Cosmos satellites into low Earth orbit. It is based on the R-36 intercontinental ballistic missile designed by Mikhail Yangel and made eight launches, with seven successes and one failure. All of its launches were conducted from LC-90 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It is sometimes designated Tsyklon-2A, not to be confused with the later Tsyklon-2 rocket. It was introduced in 1967 and was derived from the R-36 ICBM (NATO designation SS-9 Scarp). It was retired in 1969.

Tsiklon-2A rocket
MISSION OVERVIEW
  • Type: Government/Top Secret
  • US-A (Upravlenniye Sputnik Aktivny) were active radar satellites for ocean surveillance. The high power consumtion of the active radar required a nuclear reactor as power source. The satellites were known as RORSAT in the west. The US-AO series consisted of satellites, which tested all the system components but the nuclear reactor. They were battery powered.
COMPLEX OVERVIEW

Location

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan

Pad

90/19