R-56, R-26, 63S1 - From left to right, dynamic test models of: R-56 monster launch vehicle; R-26 ICBM; Kosmos 63S1 launch vehicle Credit: © Mark Wade. 35,088 bytes. 261 x 436 pixels.

The Soviet government decreed development of a lightweight launch vehicle in 1960 for launch of payloads not requiring R-7 family of boosters. The R-12 IRBM was selected as the first stage; a new high-performance second stage was developed using a unique Lox/UDMH propellant combination. After two failures, the first successful flight was on March 16, 1962. Since the R-12 was built for silo launch (it could not be held on a surface pad exposed to the elements), the existing R-12 silo 'Mayak-2' at Kapustin Yar was adapted. A swing-back shelter above the top of silo covered the second stage and payload during launch preparations. The 63S1 was used through May 1966 for a total of 40 launches, of which 12 were failures. The Mayak complex was built for missile launches and was not durable enough for repeated space launches. A launch complex is a virtual 'launch chimney' - it has to endure the flames of many launches and accomodate many different payloads. Therefore the 'Voskhod' and 'Raduga' complexes were designed for later R-12 and R-14 derived space launchers. The same military cadres designed and built the R-7 Angara complex and missile sites.

Launches: 37. Failures: 12. Success Rate: 67.57% pct. First Launch Date: 27 October 1961. Last Launch Date: 21 December 1966. LEO Payload: 300 kg. to: 250 km Orbit. at: 48.0 degrees. Liftoff Thrust: 64,910 kgf. Total Mass: 48,110 kg. Core Diameter: 1.6 m. Total Length: 31.0 m.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Kosmos A-1 Gross Mass: 39,515 kg. Empty Mass: 3,150 kg. Thrust (vac): 74,500 kgf. Isp: 264 sec. Burn time: 125 sec. Isp(sl): 230 sec. Diameter: 1.6 m. Span: 1.8 m. Length: 18.0 m. Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene No Engines: 1. RD-214

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Kosmos A-2 Gross Mass: 8,595 kg. Empty Mass: 840 kg. Thrust (vac): 10,760 kgf. Isp: 352 sec. Burn time: 250 sec. Isp(sl): 220 sec. Diameter: 1.6 m. Span: 1.6 m. Length: 7.8 m. Propellants: Lox/UDMH No Engines: 1. RD-119

• Kosmos 63S1 small booster and DS small satellites authorised. Spacecraft: DS-1.

  Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On the Creation of the Rocket-Carrier 63S1 Based on the R-12 Missile, and the Development and Launch of Small Artificial Satellite--start of work on launcher and satellites at OKB-586'

• DS-1 s/n 1 Spacecraft: DS-1. Mass: 300 kg.

  First attempted launch of Cosmos 63S1 small launch vehicle.

• DS-1 s/n 2 Spacecraft: DS-1. Mass: 300 kg.

  Second attempted launch of Cosmos 63S1 small launch vehicle.

• Cosmos 1 Spacecraft: DS-2. Payload: DS-2 s/n 1. Mass: 315 kg.

  First successful launch of Kosmos 63S1 launch vehicle. Decay date suspect Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space; development of elements in the design of space craft.

• Cosmos 2 Spacecraft: 1MS. Payload: 1MS s/n 1. Mass: 285 kg.

  Radiation, cosmic ray data. Decay date suspect Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space; development of elements in the design of space craft.

• Cosmos 3 Spacecraft: 2MS. Payload: 2MS s/n 1. Mass: 330 kg.

  Cosmic ray, radiation data. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space; development of elements in the design of space craft.

• Cosmos 5 Spacecraft: 2MS. Payload: 2MS s/n 2. Mass: 280 kg.

  Monitored artificial radiation. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space; development of elements in the design of space craft.

• Cosmos 6 Spacecraft: DS-P1. Payload: DS-P1 s/n 1. Mass: 355 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space; development of elements in the design of space craft.

• Cosmos 8 Spacecraft: DS-K-8. Payload: DS-K-8 s/n 1. Mass: 337 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 11 Spacecraft: DS-A1. Payload: DS-A1 s/n 1. Mass: 315 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• 1MS Spacecraft: 1MS.

• DS-P1 s/n 2 Spacecraft: DS-P1.

• Cosmos 14 Spacecraft: Omega. Payload: Omega-1.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 17 Spacecraft: DS-A1. Payload: DS-A1 s/n 2. Mass: 322 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• DS-MT s/n 1 Spacecraft: DS-MT.

• Cosmos 19 Spacecraft: DS-P1. Payload: DS-P1 s/n 3. Mass: 355 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• DS-A1 s/n 3 Spacecraft: DS-A1.

• DS-A1 s/n 4 Spacecraft: DS-A1.

• Cosmos 23 Spacecraft: Omega. Payload: Omega-1. Mass: 347 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 25 Spacecraft: DS-P1. Payload: DS-P1 s/n 4. Mass: 355 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 26 Spacecraft: DS-MG. Payload: DS-MG s/n 1. Mass: 365 kg.

  Radiation data. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 31 Spacecraft: DS-MT. Payload: DS-MT s/n 2. Mass: 325 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 36 Spacecraft: DS-P1-Yu. Payload: DS-P1-Yu s/n 1. Mass: 325 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 42 Spacecraft: Strela-1. Mass: 100 kg.

• Cosmos 43 Spacecraft: Strela-1. Mass: 100 kg.

• Cosmos 49 Spacecraft: DS-MG. Payload: DS-MG s/n 2. Mass: 355 kg.

  Measured Earth infrared, UV flux. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• DS-2 s/n 2 Spacecraft: DS-2.

• Cosmos 51 Spacecraft: DS-MT. Payload: DS-MT s/n 3. Mass: 350 kg.

  Measured luminosity of starry sky. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 53 Spacecraft: DS-A1. Payload: DS-A1 s/n 5. Mass: 310 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• DS-P1-Yu s/n 2 Spacecraft: DS-P1-Yu.

• DS-A1 s/n 6 Spacecraft: DS-A1.

• Cosmos 70 Spacecraft: DS-A1. Payload: DS-A1 s/n 7. Mass: 250 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 76 Spacecraft: DS-P1-Yu. Payload: DS-P1-Yu s/n 3. Mass: 325 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 101 Spacecraft: DS-P1-Yu. Payload: DS-P1-Yu s/n 4. Mass: 325 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• DS-K-40 s/n 1 Spacecraft: DS-K-40.

• Cosmos 108 Spacecraft: DS-U1-G. Payload: DS-U1-G s/n 1. Mass: 355 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• DS-K-40 s/n 2 Spacecraft: DS-K-40.

• Cosmos 123 Spacecraft: DS-P1-Yu. Payload: DS-P1-Yu s/n 5. Mass: 325 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• Cosmos 137 Spacecraft: DS-U2-D. Payload: DS-U2-D s/n 1. Mass: 295 kg.

  Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.

• 79 - Zak, Anatoly, Spaceflight, "Cosmos Launcher", 1996, Volume 38, page 416.
• 99 - Agapov, V, Novosti Kosmonavtiki, "K zapusku pervovo ISZ serii 'DS'", 1997, Issue 6.