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R-1 Cutaway
Short range ballistic missile. IOC: 1947. Family: Early Russian Ballistic Missiles. Country: Russia. Status: Retired 1964. Department of Defence Designation: SS-1A. ASCC Reporting Name: Scunner. Article Number: 8K11. Manufacturer's Designation: R-1. Complex: 8K11. Missile: 8A11.

Stalin did not decide to proceed with Soviet production of this copy of the German V-2 until 1948. Despite the threatening supervision of the program by Stalin's secret police chief, Beria, and the assistance of German rocket engineers, it took eight years for the German technology to be absorbed and the missile to be put into service. It was almost immediately superseded by later designs, but the effort laid the groundwork for the Soviet rocket industry. Surplus R-1's were converted to use as a sounding rockets for military and scientific research missions.

The decision to copy the German V-2 missile did not come quickly. Following construction of an initial batch of V-2 missiles in Germany (the N series), and the removal of available German rocket specialists to Soviet territory, Stalin spent some time before deciding what to do with them. It was not until 26 July 1947 that a decree was issued for test of the V-2 missiles at the new rocket test ground at Kapustin Yar. The first test series of 'N' rockets was conducted from September to October 1947. German assistance was required to get the rockets to fire, and then of 10 or 11 launched, only 5 were successful. A follow-on launch of 10 'T' series rockets, completed in Germany at Kleinbodungen, was just as dismal. Only 5 worked, with the others demonstrating a maximum rang of 274 km and 86 km altitude.

A resolution to put into production a Soviet-built copy of the V-2, the R-1, was issued on 14 April 1948. Aleksander Shcherbakov was responsible for seeing that a fifteen year technology gap was bridged. To accomplish this the resources of 13 research institutes and 35 factories were tapped. Glushko was tasked with producing the RD-100 copy of the V-2 engine. Prototypes had already begun factory tests at the end of 1947, with stand tests beginning in May 1948. R-1 test flight trials were accomplished swiftly - ten in 1948 and 20 in 1949. On 25 November 1950 the missile was accepted for service, with the first operational unit being the 92nd brigade (BON RVGK) at Kapustin Yar. Things seemed to be going well, but getting the missile in production would be another matter.

The missiles flown so far had been built by Korolev's NII-88 research institute at Podpliki. But Soviet aerospace practice was to assign production to a factory facility. Factory 66 at Zlatoust was selected for this in 1949, with SKB-385 to assume production design responsibility and to develop variations of the R-1 with greater range. But the work dragged on without results, and on 1 June 1951 Beria switched R-1 production to Factory 586 at Dnepropetrovsk. He ordered engine production to begin in two months - even allowing an engineer to blurt out that it would take at least eight months without consigning him to the Gulag. But the engineer was more nearly right, and the first Dnepropetrovsk production R-1, albeit still containing many parts and assemblies fabricated at NII-88, was finally completed in June 1952. First stand tests of production 8D51 engines began on 15 August 1952. The first rocket built completely of Dnepropetrovsk-fabricated parts was rolled out on 28 November 1952.

In field service the rocket required twenty vehicles and four kinds of liquid propellants for the main engine, turbines, and starter (liquid oxygen, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, permanganate catalyst). Six hours were required to prepare the rocket for launch, and CEP was only 1500 m. Another major objection of Red Army Generals - they didn't dare let the troops work with a rocket using alcohol for a propellant...

Nevertheless in December 1950 the first field R-1 unit was formed - the 23rd brigade (BON RVGK). Each brigade was equipped with six launchers. In January 1951 the 23rd deployed to Kamishin in Volgograd oblast. Further deployments of this pathfinder unit were to Belokovorovich, Ukraine; Shyalyay, Lithuania; Dzhambul, Kazakhstan, and Ordzhonikidze, the Far East, the Primorsk area. The 77th and 90th brigades were formed at Lvov, Khmelnitskiy, and Zhitomir, Ukraine. In August 1958 they were transferred to the Land Forces. The number of units fielded was small, reflecting the long delay in getting the R-1 into production. The difficulties confirmed the German's 1946 assessment that Russian industrial technology was fifteen years behind that of Germany. The field equipment was designed to also be used for R-2 missiles, which quickly replaced the R-1 in the field units.

A sea launched variant of the R-1, probably similar to the German 'Pruefstand VII' submarine-towed, pod-launched project, was also studied from 1949 to 1950, but not proceeded with.

Aside from the service version of the missile, variants were used for technology and scientific tests. From the fifth flight of the R-1A these were equipped with ejectable lateral containers and a separable nose cone for recovery of biological specimens (dogs and rabbits) and other instruments exposed to zero G conditions and altitudes up to 100 km:

  • R-1A for test of separable warheads for use on future ballistic missiles (the R-2 and R-3). The last two launches were vertical scientific flights to sample the upper atmosphere.
  • R-1B and R-1V for study of cosmic rays, the upper atmosphere, solar radiation, recoverable biological payloads, and recovery of the entire missile by parachute for reuse.
  • R-1D for study of the atmosphere; aerodynamics of test shapes at high velocities and altitudes; wind in the upper layers of the atmosphere; the ionosphere; and recoverable biological and instrument payloads.
  • R-1Ye for study of the atmosphere, solar spectrum, aerodynamics; wind in the upper layers of atmosphere; ionosphere; ozone layer; recoverable biological specimens, and recovery of the entire missile by parachute.

Official figures for the missile version include: Payload 815 kg. Range 270 km. Maximum altitude 77 km. Time of flight 5 minutes. Max velocity at burnout 1465 m/s. Accuracy 8 km in range, 4 km laterally.

Manufacturer: Korolev. Launches: 162. Failures: 5. Success Rate: 96.91%. First Launch Date: 1948-09-17. Last Launch Date: 1964-09-13. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 330 km (200 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 271.500 kN (61,036 lbf). Total Mass: 13,248 kg (29,206 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Total Length: 14.02 m (45.99 ft). Span: 3.66 m (12.00 ft). Standard warhead mass: 547 kg (1,205 lb). Maximum range: 260 km (160 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead CEP: 6.94 km (4.31 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket, Lox/.70 Alcohol. Guidance: Autopilot. Maximum speed: 5,280 kph (3,280 mph). Ceiling: 75,600 m (248,000 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
Version:

R-1A. Short range ballistic test vehicle.

Experimental missile for testing warhead separation.

Launches: 6. First Launch Date: 1949-05-07. Last Launch Date: 1949-05-28. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 13,400 kg (29,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.41 ft). Total Length: 14.10 m (46.20 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
Version:

R-1B. Short range ballistic suborbital launch vehicle.

The R-1B version was designed for scientific research at altitudes of up to 100 km, including study of cosmic rays; properties of the atmosphere; solar spectra; effects if zero-G and radiation on animals; and development of recovery of the entire missile using parachutes in order to reuse it for further experimental launches.

Launches: 4. First Launch Date: 1951-07-29. Last Launch Date: 1951-09-03. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 13,400 kg (29,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.41 ft). Total Length: 17.50 m (57.40 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
Version:

R-1V. Short range ballistic suborbital launch vehicle.

The R-1V version was designed for scientific research at altitudes of up to 100 km, including study of cosmic rays; properties of the atmosphere; solar spectra; effects if zero-G and radiation on animals; and development of recovery of the entire missile using parachutes in order to reuse it for further experimental launches.

Launches: 2. First Launch Date: 1951-07-22. Last Launch Date: 1951-08-19. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 267.000 kN (60,023 lbf). Total Mass: 13,400 kg (29,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.41 ft). Total Length: 17.50 m (57.40 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
Version:

R-1 8A11.

Initial production version.

Launches: 73. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 97.26%. First Launch Date: 1952-08-20. Last Launch Date: 1956-07-28. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 13,400 kg (29,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.41 ft). Total Length: 14.10 m (46.20 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
Version:

A-1.

Single stage vehicle.

Launches: 13. First Launch Date: 1954-05-26. Last Launch Date: 1964-09-13. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 13,400 kg (29,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.41 ft). Total Length: 14.10 m (46.20 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
Version:

R-1D. Short range ballistic suborbital launch vehicle.

The R-1B version was designed for scientific research at altitudes of up to 100 km, including winds aloft, the ionosphere, and effects of spaceflight and recovery of living animals.

Launches: 3. First Launch Date: 1954-06-26. Last Launch Date: 1954-07-07. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 13,400 kg (29,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.41 ft). Total Length: 14.10 m (46.20 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
Version:

R-1E. Short range ballistic suborbital launch vehicle.

The R-1E version was designed for scientific research at altitudes of up to 100 km, including winds aloft, air composition, solar radiation, the ionosphere, ozone layer characteristics, and effects of spaceflight and recovery of living animals.

Launches: 4. First Launch Date: 1955-01-25. Last Launch Date: 1956-05-31. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 13,400 kg (29,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.41 ft). Total Length: 14.10 m (46.20 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
Version:

R-1E (A-1). Short range ballistic suborbital launch vehicle.

Launches: 2. First Launch Date: 1955-02-05. Last Launch Date: 1956-06-07. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 13,400 kg (29,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.65 m (5.41 ft). Total Length: 14.10 m (46.20 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x R-1. Gross Mass: 12,630 kg (27,840 lb). Empty Mass: 4,066 kg (8,963 lb). Motor: 1 x RD-100. Thrust (vac): 307.085 kN (69,035 lbf). Isp: 233 sec. Burn time: 63 sec. Length: 14.15 m (46.42 ft). Diameter: 1.65 m (5.42 ft). Propellants: Lox/Alcohol.
R-1 Chronology

1946 May 13 - Committee formed to implement German rocket technology in Russia. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 1017-419ss 'Questions of Reactive Armaments-formation of Special Committee for Reactive Technology (later Special Committee No. 2) of Council of Ministers for the co-ordination of work on missiles' was issued. This decree set up a number of new research institutes to exploit German rocket technology.

1946 June - Groettrup team completes R-2 design. Groettrup team in Nordhausen completes design of the K1 (R-1). The design uses some parts manufactured in reopened factories in the German east zone. Factory 88 at Podlipki (later Kaliningrad, then Korolev) 16 km north-west of Moscow, and Factory 456, at Khimki, 7 km north-west of Moscow, are to be the first two Soviet rocket assembly factories.

1946 June 21 - NII-4 founded. Decree 'On establishment of NII-4' was issued.

1946 July 3 - Plant 456 at Khimki (later OKB-456, NPO Energomash) formed. Ministry of Aviation Industry (MAP) Decree 424 'On redirecting Plant No. 456 at Khimki for the production of rocket engines' was issued.

1946 July 14 - First rocket unit of Soviet military formed. Decree 'On establishment of BON of Fourth Directorate of GAU in Ministry of Armed Forces' was issued.

1946 August 9 - Korolev named Chief Designer for R-1 rocket (copy of German V-2). Ministry of Armaments Decree 83-K 'On appointment of S. P Korolev as Chief Designer of R-1' was issued.

1946 August 26 - NII-88 reorganised. Decree 'On establishment of structure of NII-88' was issued.

1946 August 30 - Korolev head of Department 3, NII-88. Decree 'On appointment of S. P. Korolev as Chief of Department No. 3 of NII-88 SKB' was issued.

1946 September 29 - OKB-456 formed (later Energomash). Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 1167 'On establishment of OKB-456 at Plant No. 456 at Khimki' was issued.

1946 October 23 - Groettrup team transported to Soviet Union. In overnight roundup, 20,000 Germans transported to USSR to transfer technology on aerospace and other technical fields.

1948 April 14 - Decree for production of R-1 and R-2 missiles, design of R-3. Decree 'On work on the R-1 and R-2 missiles' was issued. To accomplish putting the R-1 into production the resources of 13 research institutes and 35 factories were tapped. Glushko was tasked with producing the RD-100 copy of the V-2 engine. R-1 stand tests began the same day the decree was issued (Prototypes had already begun factory tests at the end of 1947). The decree also set forth design goals for the R-3.The specification was an order of magnitude leap from the other vehicles - to deliver a 3 tonne atomic bomb to any point in Europe from Soviet territory - a required range of 3000 km.

1948 September 17 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-4 FAILURE: Veered 51 degrees from flight path. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). First of 9 rockets of first test series. Veered 51 degrees from flight path.

1948 October 10 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-1 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Range achieved 300 km. Successful flight.

1948 October 11 - R-1 flight. First R-1 flight with scientific experiments.

1948 October 13 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-9 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1948 October 21 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-6 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1948 October 23 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-10 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1948 November 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-3 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1948 November 3 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-12 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1948 November 4 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-2 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1948 November 5 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 I-11 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Ninth and last launch of first R-1 test series.

1949 May 7 - 03:12 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1A 1 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test of separable warhead. Range achieved 200 km. Ballistic launch. Expected range 210 km. Launched at 0612 local time. The launches were first made public by Tass on March 27, 1958: 'In May 1949 a single-stage Russian rocket attained an altitude of 109 km with an instrument payload of 120 to 130 kg'.

1949 May 10 - 15:57 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1A 2 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test of separable warhead. Range achieved 279.6 km. Ballistic launch. Expected range 210 km. Launched at 1857 local time.

1949 May 15 - 02:48 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1A 3 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test of separable warhead. Range achieved 210 km. Ballistic launch. Expected range 210 km. Launched at 0548 local time.

1949 May 16 - 21:55 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1A 4 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test of separable warhead. Range achieved 320 km. Ballistic launch. Expected range 210 km. Launched at 0055 local time.

1949 May 24 - 01:40 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1A 5 FIAR-1 Test/Aeronomy mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test of separable warhead. Range achieved 32.9 km. Vertical launch. Expected range 22 km. Launched at 0440 local time. Carried two 85 kg Physical Measurement of Atmospheric Boundary (FIAR-1) containers, but they were not recovered.

1949 May 28 - 01:50 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1A 6 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test of separable warhead. Range achieved 31.9 km. Vertical launch. Expected range 22 km. Launched at 0450 local time. Carried two 85 kg Physical Measurement of Atmospheric Boundary (FIAR-1) containers, which were recovered but damaged; no science resulted

1949 September 10 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-1 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). First launch of second series - 10 preproduction and 11 prototype rockets available. A total of 20 were fired; six failures in 16 launches.

1949 September 11 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-2 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 September 13 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-11 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 September 14 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-4 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 September 17 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-8 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 September 19 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-5 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 September 20 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-9 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 September 23 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-15 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 September 28 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-10 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 3 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-14 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 8 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-16 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 10 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-12 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 12 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-7 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 13 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-13 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 13 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-17 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 15 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-19 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 18 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-23 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 19 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-22 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 22 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-20 Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1949 October 23 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 II-3 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Last and 20th launch in second R-1 test series.

1949 December 30 - R-1 sounding rocket variants authorised. Decree 'On work on geophysical variants of the R-1 missile' was issued.

1950 November 25 - R-1 accepted for military service. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On adoption of the R-1 into armaments' was issued. The missile was accepted for service, with the first operational unit the 92nd brigade (BON RVGK) at Kapustin Yar.

1950 December - First R-1 operational unit The first field R-1 unit was formed - the 23th brigade (BON RUGK). Each brigade was equipped with six launchers. In January 1951 the 23rd deployed to Kamishin in Volgograd oblast. In August 1958 they were transferred to the Land Forces. The number of units fielded were small, reflecting the long delay in getting the R-1 into production. The field equipment was designed to also be used for R-2 missiles, which quickly replaced the R-1 in the field units.

A sea launched variant of the R-1, probably similar to the German 'Pruefstand VII' submarine-towed, pod-launched project, was also studied from 1949 to 1950, but not proceeded with.

1951 January 29 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIA-1 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). First launch in winter test series. Carried dogs.

1951 January 30 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIA-5 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 January 31 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIA-2 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 February 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIA-6 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 February 2 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIA-3 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Last launch in winter test series.

1951 May 9 - Plant 586 in Dnepropetrovsk to convert to missile production (future NPO Yuzhnoye). Decree 'On the Transfer of the Dnepropetrovsk Automobile Plant From the Ministry of Automobile and SM Tractor Industry to the Ministry of Armaments--transfer of Dnepropetrovsk Plant No. 586 into the Ministry of Armaments for missile production' was issued

1951 June 1 - R-1 production moved to Dnepropetrovsk Ministry of Armaments Decree 'On starting of series production of the R-1 at Dnepropetrovsk Plant No. 586' was issued. Factory 66 at Zlatoust was originally selected to produce the R-1 in 1949, with SKB-385 to assume production design responsibility and to develop variations of the R-1 with greater range. But the work dragged on without results, and on 1 June 1951 Beria switched R-1 production to Factory 586 at Dnepropetrovsk. He ordered engine production to begin in two months.

1951 June 13 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-11 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). First launch in quality assurance test series of operational missiles.

1951 June 14 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-10 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 18 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-1 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 19 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-2 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 20 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-3 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 22 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-7 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 23 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-9 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 24 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-8 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 25 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-4 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 26 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-5 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1951 June 27 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 IIIB-14 Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Last launch in quality assurance test series of operational missiles.

1951 July 22 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1V 1 Test / biology mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). First Soviet rocket flight with animals (dogs Dezik and Zhegan). Maximum Altitude - 100 km. Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed.

1951 July 29 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1B 1 Test / biology mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Electrical failure. No payload recovery. Carried dogs.

1951 August 15 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1B 2 Test / solar ultraviolet / biology mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed. Carried dogs.

1951 August 19 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1V 1 Test / biology mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container functioned. Carried dogs.

1951 August 28 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1B 3 Test / biology mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Smoke container functioned; Instruments recovered.

1951 September 3 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1B 4 Test / biology mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed. Carried dogs.

1952 June - First R-1 delivery from Dnepropetrovsk First Dnepropetrovsk production R-1, albeit still containing many parts and assemblies fabricated at NII-88, was finally complete.

1952 August 15 - First stand tests of production R-1 engines. First stand tests of production 8D51 engines began on 15 August 1952.

1952 August 20 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 220 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1952 August 21 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 105 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1952 August 25 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 320 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1952 October 29 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 420 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1952 October 30 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 520 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1952 October 30 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 501 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1952 November 21 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 620 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1952 November 28 - First production R-1 delivery The first rocket built completely of Dnepropetrovsk-fabricated parts was rolled out of the factory.

1953 March 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1020 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 March 5 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 319 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 March 19 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 820 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 May 11 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 220 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 July 6 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 420 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 10 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 16 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 820 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 17 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 520 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 19 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 320 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 20 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 620 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 26 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 720 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 27 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1020 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 28 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1220 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 October 28 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 920 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 November 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 November 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 November 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 November 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 November 12 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1120 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 November 15 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 November 15 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1320 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1953 November 24 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1520 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 March 11 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1820 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 March 16 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1916 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 March 16 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1920 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 March 20 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1918 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 April 23 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1720 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 April 24 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1910 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 April 26 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1912 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 April 29 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 2120 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 May 3 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1620 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 May 4 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 2020 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 May 4 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1420 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 May 7 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 220 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 May 21 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 120 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 May 26 - 14:24 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 106 km (65 mi).

1954 June 11 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 12 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 June 12 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 720 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 June 14 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 14 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 June 26 - 13:24 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1D 1 Test / biology / ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 106 km (65 mi).

1954 July 2 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1D 2 Test / biology / ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed. Carried dogs Lyza and Ryjik.

1954 July 7 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1D 3 Test / biology / ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload recovered; left animal container, smoke container.

1954 August 2 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 320 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 August 27 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 520 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 August 27 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 420 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 November 30 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1915 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1954 December 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 620 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 January 25 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1E 1 Test / biology mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload section deployed at 22 seconds. Left animal container recovered. Carried dogs.

1955 January 28 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 720 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 January 29 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 920 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 February 3 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 820 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 February 5 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1E (A-1) 2 Test / biology mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). No recovery. Carried dogs.

1955 February 7 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1020 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 April 8 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 410 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 April 9 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 1811 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 April 12 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 405 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 April 15 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 215 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 June 18 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 318 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 June 24 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 305 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 July 25 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 104 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 July 26 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 119 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 July 29 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 0427 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 August 1 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 0430 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 August 24 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 302 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 August 25 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 0315 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 October 5 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No K1-17 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 October 8 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No K1-19 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1955 November 4 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1E 3 Biological mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container functioned. Carried dogs.

1956 January 21 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 101 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 January 24 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 465 FAILURE: Failure. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1956 February 13 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 431 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 February 14 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 453 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 February 27 - Soviet Leadership tours Korolev's design bureau Khrushchev, Molotov, Bulganin, and other leaders are given a tour of Korolev’s OKB-1 in Kaliningrad. They are shown the R-1, R-2 and R-5 missiles as well as a mock-up of the R-7 and are awed. Ustinov reports that only five warheads would be needed to destroy Britain, and seven to nine for France. The need for the R-12 was discussed - the longer range was essential so that the missiles could be based farther from NATO’s borders (the experience of the German invasion and quick destruction of forward-based units and equipment was on everyone’s minds).

1956 March 28 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 0316 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 April 16 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 0317 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 May 14 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1E 4 Biological mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container functioned. Carried dogs.

1956 May 31 - 02:57 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1E 5 Biology / solar ultraviolet mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed. Carried dogs.

1956 June 7 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1E (A-1) 6 Biological mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container functioned. Carried dogs.

1956 June 30 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 5112 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 July 20 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 5301 FAILURE: Failure. Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1956 July 24 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 0409 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 July 26 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 0311 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 July 28 - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-1 8A11 No 0307 Operational test Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 September 13 - Russian agrees to sell China two R-1 missiles They were delivered in December 1956. Tsien is disgusted to find that the missiles are nothing but copies of the V-2. Something more advanced is needed, he argues to the Russians.

1956 December 20 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 November 9 - 16:54 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 330 km (200 mi).

1958 February 21 - 09:40 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere-solar mission Ionosphere-solar mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 206 km (128 mi).

1958 February 26 - 02:35 GMT - Kheysa -. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August - R-1 retired from front-line service The number of units fielded were small, reflecting the long delay in getting the R-1 into production. The field equipment was designed to also be used for R-2 missiles, which quickly replaced the R-1 in the field units.

1958 August 14 - 00:40 GMT - Kheysa -. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 October 4 - 14:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere-solar mission Ionosphere-solar mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

1958 October 10 - 13:50 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere-solar mission Ionosphere-solar mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

1958 December 23 - 13:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

1958 December 25 - 13:10 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

1959 January 10 - 11:00 GMT - Kheysa -. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1963 January 27 - 01:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Test mission Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1964 September 13 - 02:57 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Test mission Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

Bibliography:

  • McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
  • Ordway, Frank, and Sharpe, Mitchell, The Rocket Team, Collector's Guide Publishing, Ontario, Canada, 2000.
  • Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994.
  • Vetrov, G S, S. P. Korolev i evo delo, Nauka, Moscow, 1998.
  • Siddiqi, Asif A, Soviet Space Web Page, 1999 via Dietrich Haeseler. Web Address when accessed: http://home.earthlink.net/~cliched/main_space.html.
  • Siddiqi, Asif A, The Soviet Space Race With Apollo, University Press of Florida, 2003.
  • Karpenko, A V, Utkin, A F and Popov,A D, Otechestvenniye strategischeskiye raketnoye kompleks, Sankt-Peterburg: Nevskii bastion; Gangut 1999..
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Space bunny
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Sounding rocket capsule with rabbit and hamster payload