Vostok-K Vehicle Overview

A complete overview of the Vostok-K launch vehicle, including launch stats, vehicle info and launch locations.

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Vostok-K rocket

Basic Info

Name

Vostok-K

Family

R-7

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

Baikonur Cosmodrome launch site

World's largest space launch facility, pivotal for Russian space missions.

📍 Kazakhstan
🚀 1551 Launches

Upcoming Launches