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UR-200 launch
UR-200 launch -

Credit: © Mark Wade. 8,965 bytes. 103 x 431 pixels.



Family: UR. Country: Russia. Status: Hardware. Department of Defence Designation: SS-10. Article Number: 8K81. Manufacturer's Designation: UR-200.

On 16 March and 1 August 1961 the Central Committee and Politburo approved development of the UR-200 (8K81) universal rocket. The UR-200 was designed not only to send a thermonuclear warhead over a range of 12,000 km, but also to orbit the IS (Istrebitel Sputnik) ASAT; the US (Upravlenniye Sputnik) nuclear-powered naval intelligence satellite; and the Raketoplan combat re-entry vehicle, which would use aerodynamic horizontal and vertical manoeuvring to penetrate enemy space defences and be practically invulnerable. The UR-200 draft project was completed in July 1962. It technical characteristics would be similar to those of Korolev�s R-9 and Yangel�s R-16. Trial flights of the ICBM version ran from 4 November 1963 to 20 October 1964.

On October 13, 1964, Khrushchev was ousted from power. The new leadership, under Brezhnev, was adverse to all projects Khrushchev had supported. These included those of Chelomei and his OKB-52. An expert commission under M V Keldysh was directed to examine all of Chelomei�s projects and make recommendations as to which should be cancelled. Keldysh found that Yangel�s R-36 universal rocket was superior to Chelomei�s UR-200. The UR-200 and Raketoplan were accordingly cancelled, while the IS and US satellites were redesigned for launch by the R-36.

UR-200 artefacts may be found at the following museums: Tsniimash has a 1:10 structural simulation model; Orevo has a complete sectioned missile; Baikonur has launch photographs. All launch vehicle data are accurate (except empty mass prorated between first and second stages).


Specifications

LEO Payload: 2,000 kg. to: 185 km Orbit. at: 52.0 degrees. Liftoff Thrust: 203,810 kgf. Total Mass: 135,710 kg. Core Diameter: 3.0 m. Total Length: 36.0 m.


UR-200 Chronology


1960 Jun 23 -
1960 Oct 3 -
1961 Mar 6 -
1961 Mar 16 -
- 1961 August -
1962 Jun 3 -
- 1962 July -
1962 Jul 15 -
1963 Nov 4 -
1964 Oct 4 -
1964 Oct 13 -
1965 Aug 24 -

Bibliography:


UR-200 and UR-500UR-200 and UR-500 - Dynamic test models of UR-200 ICBM and early Proton concept 'collection of UR-200's'

Credit: © Mark Wade. 27,338 bytes. 291 x 434 pixels.




UR-200 detailUR-200 detail

Credit: © Mark Wade. 47,492 bytes. 579 x 398 pixels.



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Last update 12 March 2001.
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