Vostok-K Vehicle Overview
A complete overview of the Vostok-K launch vehicle, including launch stats, vehicle info and launch locations.
Basic Info
Name
Vostok-K
Family
R-7
Manufacturer
First Launch
15 May 1960
Successful Launches
11
Failed Launches
2
Rocket Info
Status
Inactive
Stages
3
Length
30.84 m
Diameter
2.99 m
Launch Mass
280 tons
Thrust
971 kN
Reusability
Not Reusable
Payload Info
LEO Capacity
4,725 kg
The Vostok-K was an expendable carrier rocket used by the Soviet Union for thirteen launches between 1960 and 1964, six of which were manned.
The Vostok-K made its maiden flight on 22 December 1960, three weeks after the retirement of the Vostok-L. The third stage engine failed 425 seconds after launch, and the payload, a Korabl-Sputnik spacecraft, failed to reach orbit. The spacecraft was recovered after landing, and the two dogs aboard the spacecraft survived the flight.
On 12 April 1961, a Vostok-K rocket was used to launch Vostok 1, the first manned spaceflight, which made Yuri Gagarin the first human to fly in space.
Launch Sites used by Vostok-K
Baikonur Cosmodrome
World's largest space launch facility, pivotal for Russian space missions.