YaRD Credit - © Mark Wade

Single-stage nuclear-powered ICBM designed by OKB-1.

A 30 June 1958 resolution authorised development of this astounding weapon, and the draft project was completed on 30 December 1959. Perhaps coming under the heading of 'inadvisable rocket science', test launches would have been into an artificial reservoir in the target area to limit contamination by having the reactor crash into water at the end of its trajectory. While reentering nuclear reactors at the end of the ICBM trajectory may have been not considered on great consequence during global thermonuclear war, the consequences of missing the reservoir during peacetime tests were evidently too gruesome to consider. Further development of the engine was discontinued in 1960. Interestingly American spy Penkovskiy reported development of this rocket in 1962, but the story was not believed. Only in 1996 was the program revealed.

Manufacturer: Korolev. Liftoff Thrust: 1,255.000 kN (282,135 lbf). Total Mass: 84,400 kg (186,000 lb). Core Diameter: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Total Length: 25.00 m (82.00 ft).

Variant using a Glushko nuclear engine heating ammonia as a propellant.

Manufacturer: Korolev. Payload: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb). to a: 14,000 km trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 1,260.000 kN (283,250 lbf). Total Mass: 84,400 kg (186,000 lb). Core Diameter: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Total Length: 25.00 m (82.00 ft).

Variant using a Bondaryuk nuclear engine heating mixed alcohol and ammonia as a propellant.

Manufacturer: Korolev. Payload: 2,600 kg (5,700 lb). to a: 14,000 km trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 1,525.000 kN (342,833 lbf). Total Mass: 96,000 kg (211,000 lb). Core Diameter: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Total Length: 28.00 m (91.00 ft).

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: YaRD ICBM OKB-456. Gross Mass: 84,400 kg (186,000 lb). Empty Mass: 8,600 kg (18,900 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,370.000 kN (307,980 lbf). Isp: 470 sec. Burn time: 250 sec. Isp(sl): 430 sec. Diameter: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Span: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Length: 21.00 m (68.00 ft). Propellants: Nuclear/Ammonia. No Engines: 1. Engine: YaRD OKB-456. Status: Development ended 1960. Nuclear-propelled ICBM with engines in development by Glushko. Four expansion nozzles fed by single reactor. Payload 2,600 kg to 14,000 km. Empty mass, vehicle length calculated.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: YaRD ICBM OKB-670. Gross Mass: 96,000 kg (211,000 lb). Empty Mass: 8,800 kg (19,400 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,660.000 kN (373,180 lbf). Isp: 470 sec. Burn time: 235 sec. Isp(sl): 430 sec. Diameter: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Span: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Length: 23.00 m (75.00 ft). Propellants: Nuclear/Ammonia+Alcohol. No Engines: 1. Engine: YaRD OKB-670. Status: Development ended 1960. Nuclear-propelled ICBM with engines in development by Bondayuk. Four expansion nozzles fed by single reactor. Payload 4,000 kg to 14,000 km. Empty mass, vehicle length calculated.

1958 June 30 - Launch Vehicle: N1, YaRD ICBM.

• Development of Soviet nuclear-powered rockets authorised. Nation: USSR. Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On the Creation of pockets With Engines on the Basis of Nuclear Energy Applications--work on a draft project for rockets with nuclear engines' was issued. Competing engine designs were in development by Glushko’s OKB-456 and Bondaryuk’s OKB-670. Both designs used existing available reactors in cyldindrical housings, with the reactors operating at 3000 degrees K. The propellant was heated in the reactor and exhausted through four expansion nozzles. The Glushko engine operated with ammonia, while the Bondaryuk engine used a mixture of ammonia and alcohol. With such propellants a specific impulse of 430 seconds was achieved.References: 474.

• Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994. ISBN: 1896522815. Dual English/Russian language picture book of the history of the Energia Corporation. Many unique photos and drawings of Korolev's rockets and spacecraft. Republished by Apogee books in 2000. More at amazon.com...