UR-200 launch - Credit: © Mark Wade. 8,965 bytes. 103 x 431 pixels.

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).

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.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x UR-200 Stage 1 Gross Mass: 107,500 kg. Empty Mass: 6,600 kg. Thrust (vac): 228,000 kgf. Isp: 311 sec. Burn time: 135 sec. Isp(sl): 278 sec. Diameter: 3.0 m. Span: 3.0 m. Length: 20.0 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 1. RD-0202

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x UR-200 Stage 2 Gross Mass: 25,810 kg. Empty Mass: 2,400 kg. Thrust (vac): 62,500 kgf. Isp: 322 sec. Burn time: 113 sec. Diameter: 2.2 m. Span: 2.2 m. Length: 10.0 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 1. RD-0205

• Chelomei Raketoplan, UR-200 ICBM, and IS antisatellite system authorised. Spacecraft: Raketoplan, I2P.

  Decree 715-295 'On approval of preliminary work on the Raketoplan, UR-200 ICBM, and IS anti-satellite system' was issued.

• Chelomei acquires Myasishchev and Khrunichev OKBs. Spacecraft: Raketoplan.

  Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 1057-434 'On transfer of OKB-23 as Branch No. I of OKB-52 and on course of work on IS anti-satellite system' was issued. Chelomei acquired the OKB-23 of Vladimir Mikhailovich Myasishchev, (which had formerly designed heavy bombers), as well as the M K Khrunichev heavy aviation factory. Both of these organisations had a very high level of technical and manufacturing expertise, and assisted Chelomei in quickly moving ahead on his new space projects.

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  UR-200 ICBM - UR-200 Universal Rocket, planned for both ICBM and space launch duties. Credit: © Mark Wade. 3,878 bytes. 42 x 372 pixels.

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• US RORSAT authorised. Spacecraft: US-A.

  Decree 420�1741 'On approval of work on the US satellite and UR-200 launch vehicle / ICBM' was issued.

• UR-200 (8K81) launch vehicle development authorised. Spacecraft: Kosmoplan, IS-A, US-A, US-P, FOBS.

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  RD-0205 8D46 - RD-0205 8D46 on stage 8S816 (UR-200) Credit: © Mark Wade. 45,159 bytes. 576 x 400 pixels.

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  An enabling decree was issued on 1 August 1961 by the Central Committee and Politburo. The UR-200 was designed not only to send a thermonuclear warhead over a range of 12,000 km, but also to orbit all of the Kosmoplan military variants: the IS ASAT; the US nuclear-powered naval intelligence satellite; and the Kosmoplan combat re-entry vehicle.

• UR-200 universal ICBM / space booster authorised.

  Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On course of work on the UR-200 missile and launcher' was issued.

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  UR-200 - UR-200 based on launch photo Credit: © Mark Wade. 1,146 bytes. 44 x 336 pixels.

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• US RORSAT development plans. Spacecraft: US-A.

  Decree 'On course of work on the US reconnaissance satellite system launched on the UR-2OO' was issued.

• Kosmoplan and UR-200 draft projects completed. Spacecraft: US-A, US-P, ASAT, Kosmoplan.

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  UR-200 forward Credit: © Mark Wade. 49,104 bytes. 576 x 395 pixels.

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  Trial flights of the ICBM version ran from 4 November 1963 to 20 October 1964. Versions of the Kosmoplan would fly as the reactor-powered US-A and solar-powered US-P ELINT satellites and the I2P ASAT.

• UR-200 draft project is completed.

• First UR-200 test flight.

• Final UR-200 test flight.

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  UR-200 ICBM - Drawing of UR-200 ICBM. The UR-200 was tested but not put into service. Credit: © Mark Wade. 3,714 bytes. 39 x 331 pixels.

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• Khrushchev ousted from power. Spacecraft: Kosmoplan, FOBS, I2P, US-P, US-A, LK-1.

  Brezhnev faction assumes control of Politubro. Brezhnev was adverse to all projects Khrushchev had supported. These included those of Chelomei and his OKB-52.

• Development of R-36-O and Tsyklon launch vehicles authorised Spacecraft: I2P, US-A, FOBS.

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  UR-200 engine Credit: © Mark Wade. 9,645 bytes. 199 x 287 pixels.

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  Decree 'On Creation of an R-36 Based Carrier Rocket for Launching the IS and US KA--start of work on an R-36-based launch vehicle for the IS and US programs' was issued. After Khrushchev was ousted from power, Chelomei's projects were examined by an expert commission under M V Keldysh. It was found that Yangel�s R-36 rocket was superior to Chelomei�s UR-200. The UR-200 was cancelled; the IS and US satellites would be launched by the R-36 11K67. The Tsyklon 2 definitive operational version replaced the 11K67 launch vehicle from 1969.

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UR-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.

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• 193 - Placard, TsNIIMASH Museum, .
• 194 - Placard, Orevo Museum of MAI, .
• 220 - Khrunichev Brochure, 1996.
• 273 - Afanasyev, Igor, Novosti kosmonavtiki, "35 let RN Proton", 1998, Issue 5, page 40.

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UR-200 detail Credit: © Mark Wade. 47,492 bytes. 579 x 398 pixels.

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