Kosmos 8K63 LV Credit - © Mark Wade

Initial serial production version was the Kosmos-3, built at the Krasnoryarsk Machine Factory. Flew only four times, with two failures, before being succeeded by the modernized production version under the responsibility of NPO Polyot.

Manufacturer: Yuzhnoye. Launches: 6. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 66.67%. First Launch Date: 1966-11-16. Last Launch Date: 1968-08-27. Launch data is: complete. LEO Payload: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). to: 400 km Orbit. Payload: 700 kg (1,540 lb). to a: 1,600 km orbital trajectory. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). Associated Spacecraft: Strela-2. Liftoff Thrust: 1,477.820 kN (332,227 lbf). Total Mass: 107,500 kg (236,900 lb). Core Diameter: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Total Length: 26.30 m (86.20 ft). Launch Price $: 10.000 million. in: 1994 price dollars.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Kosmos-1. Gross Mass: 87,200 kg (192,200 lb). Empty Mass: 5,300 kg (11,600 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,740.023 kN (391,173 lbf). Isp: 292 sec. Burn time: 130 sec. Isp(sl): 248 sec. Diameter: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Span: 4.40 m (14.40 ft). Length: 22.40 m (73.40 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-216. Other designations: Skean; SS-5; R-14; 8K65; 65; 11K65. Launch count 411 orbital and ca. 300 suborbital to end 1994. Failures based on proration of failures to orbit.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: Kosmos-2. Gross Mass: 20,135 kg (44,390 lb). Empty Mass: 1,435 kg (3,163 lb). Thrust (vac): 156.000 kN (35,070 lbf). Isp: 303 sec. Burn time: 375 sec. Diameter: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Span: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Length: 6.00 m (19.60 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: 11D49. Other designations: S3. Launch count 411 orbital and ca. 300 suborbital to end 1994. Failures based on proration of failures to orbit.

1966 November 16 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Pad: LC41/15. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65. Model: Kosmos 11K65. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause.

• Strela-2 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-2. Agency: RVSN. COSPAR: F661116A. References: 279.

• Cosmos 151 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Mass: 875 kg (1,929 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-2. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 384 km (238 mi). Apogee: 399 km (247 mi). Inclination: 56.00 deg. Period: 92.40 min. COSPAR: 1967-027A. USAF Sat Cat: 2720. Decay Date: 1991-05-06. Possible test flight. References: 1, 2, 5, 6, 279.

• VKZ Solar Ultraviolet mission Nation: USSR. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 4,400 km (2,700 mi). References: 98, 744.

• VKZ Solar Ultraviolet mission? Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 4,000 km (2,400 mi). References: 1836.

• Strela-2 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-2. Agency: RVSN. COSPAR: F680615A. References: 279.

• Cosmos 236 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Mass: 875 kg (1,929 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-2. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 340 km (210 mi). Apogee: 348 km (216 mi). Inclination: 56.10 deg. Period: 91.40 min. COSPAR: 1968-070A. USAF Sat Cat: 3347. Decay Date: 1990-03-04. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1, 2, 6, 279.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Isakowitz, Steven J,, International Reference to Space Launch Systems Second Edition, AIAA, Washington DC, 1991 (succeeded by 2000 edition). ISBN: 1563473534. Superseded by the later editions. More at amazon.com...

• Zak, Anatoly, Spaceflight, "Cosmos Launcher", 1996, Volume 38, page 416.

• Agapov, V, Novosti Kosmonavtiki, "K zapusku pervovo ISZ serii 'DS'", 1997, Issue 6.

• Melnik, T G, Voenno-Kosmicheskiy Siliy, Nauka, Moscow, 1997.. Two-volume official history of the (now defunct) Russin space forces.