Kosmos 8K63 LV - Credit: © Mark Wade. 767 bytes. 52 x 229 pixels.

Adaptation of 11K65M launcher for suborbital and single orbit test of subscale prototypes of Spiral and Buran manned spaceplanes (BOR-4 and BOR-5).

Launches: 10. Failures: 0. Success Rate: 100.00% pct. First Launch Date: 04 June 1982. Last Launch Date: 22 June 1988. LEO Payload: 1,400 kg. to: 400 km Orbit. Payload: 700 kg. to a: 1,600 km orbital trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 150,696 kgf. Total Mass: 107,500 kg. Core Diameter: 2.4 m. Total Length: 26.3 m. Launch Price $: 10.00 million. in 1994 price dollars.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Kosmos-1 Gross Mass: 87,200 kg. Empty Mass: 5,300 kg. Thrust (vac): 177,433 kgf. Isp: 292 sec. Burn time: 130 sec. Isp(sl): 248 sec. Diameter: 2.4 m. Span: 4.4 m. Length: 22.4 m. Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH No Engines: 1. RD-216

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Kosmos-2 Gross Mass: 20,135 kg. Empty Mass: 1,435 kg. Thrust (vac): 16,000 kgf. Isp: 303 sec. Burn time: 375 sec. Diameter: 2.4 m. Span: 2.4 m. Length: 6.0 m. Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH No Engines: 1. 11D49

• Cosmos 1374 Spacecraft: BOR-4. Mass: 1,000 kg.

  Subscale Spiral spaceplane. After 1.25 revolutions of the earth, deorbited and recovered by Soviet naval forces in the Indian Ocean at 17 degrees South, 98 degrees East, 560 km south of Cocos Islands. Made a 600 km cross-range maneuver during reentry. The recovery was filmed by an Australian Orion reconnaissance aircraft, revealing the configuration to the West for the first time.

• Cosmos 1445 Spacecraft: BOR-4. Mass: 1,000 kg.

  Subscale Spiral spaceplane. After 1.25 revolutions of the earth, deorbited and recovered by Soviet naval forces in the Indian Ocean, 556 km south of the Cocos Islands .

• BOR-5 Flight 1 Spacecraft: BOR-5. Payload: BOR-5.

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• Cosmos 1517 Spacecraft: BOR-4. Mass: 1,000 kg.

  Subscale Spiral spaceplane. In a new mission profile, braked out of orbit over the South Atlantic and was recovered in the Black Sea after one orbit of the Earth.

• BOR-5 Flight 2 Spacecraft: BOR-5. Payload: BOR-5. Mass: 1,400 kg.

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• Cosmos 1614 Spacecraft: BOR-4. Mass: 1,000 kg.

  Last flight of the subscale Spiral spaceplane. Recovered December 19, 1984 5:26 GMT, in the Black Sea after one orbit of the Earth.

• BOR-5 Flight 3 Spacecraft: BOR-5. Payload: BOR-5. Mass: 1,400 kg.

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• BOR-5 Flight 4 Spacecraft: BOR-5. Payload: BOR-5. Mass: 1,400 kg.

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• BOR-5 Flight 5 Spacecraft: BOR-5. Payload: BOR-5. Mass: 1,400 kg.

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• BOR-5 Flight 6 Spacecraft: BOR-5. Payload: BOR-5. Mass: 1,400 kg.

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• 42 - Isakowitz, Steven J,, International Reference to Space Launch Systems Second Edition, AIAA, Washington DC, 1991.
• 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.