Baikonur

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Baikonur
Credit - © Mark Wade

Alternate Name: GIK-5 / NIIP-5. Other Name: Tyuratam. Type: Orbital Launch Site. Operator: Russia. Country: Kazakhstan. Latitude: 45.95515 deg. Longitude: 63.35028 deg. Altitude: 92 m (301 ft). Minimum Inclination: 49.0 degrees. Maximum Inclination: 99.0 degrees.

Russia's largest cosmodrome, the only one used for manned launches and with facilities for the larger Proton, N1, and Energia launch vehicles. The spaceport ended up on foreign soil after the break-up of Soviet Union. The official designations NIIP-5 and GIK-5 are used in official Soviet histories. It was also universally referred to as Tyuratam by both Soviet military staff and engineers, and the US intelligence agencies. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union the Russian Federation has insisted on continued use of the old Soviet 'public' name of Baikonur. In its Kazakh (Kazak) version this is rendered Baykonur.

The remote site was selected in order to accommodate the radio guidance system of the R-7 ICBM. This system required three radio control stations - one each 150-200 km away to either side of the launch site, and the third 300 km behind the launch site. From the existing Kapustin Yar missile test site this would require control stations in the Caspian Sea or Iran. For this reason Baikonur was selected as the R-7 test site and built at tremendous expense. Each operational R-7 launch site cost 500 million rubles. This included the expense of the down-range radar and the radio control stations, each of which had to be located in taiga or bog and required the building of new roads, power lines, and so on.

A few years later Korolev informed Khrushchev that it would be possible to build an inertially guided R-7, dispensing with the radar and radio control stations. Khrushchev was dumbfounded - why then had they built Baikonur? Nevertheless use of the site continued for test of later inertially guided missiles and mammoth facilities were built to accommodate Chelomei's Proton and Korolev's N1 space launch vehicles. Before each of these projects consideration was given to setting up another, more convenient, launch site, but evidently the advantage of the existing infrastructure at Baikonur was too great.

Aside from its test role, Baikonur served as an operational missile base on and off over the years, at first for the two R-7 pads and seven R-16 ICBM launchers.

The Baikonur cosmodrome extends for 85 km from North to South, and from 125 km from East to West, a territory as great as Moldova. Aside from dozens of launch pads it includes five tracking-control centers, 9 tracking stations, and a 1500 km rocket test range.

Leninsk (Site 10), located on the Syr Darya River along the main train line, was the main living area of the cosmodrome. Its peak population was from 120,000 to 150,000. The traditional names for the areas of the cosmodrome were named as looking north from Leninsk: 'Left flank'; 'Right flank'; and 'Center'.

The '9th Center' consisted of the town of Leninsk its living and cultural centers , Krainiy Airport, Moscow Aviation Institute's S Ordzhonikidze School, and the television center. The administrative center for the cosmodrome was in the town itself.

The 'Left Flank' is located 70 km northwest of Leninsk. It was also known as the 'Chelomei arm' since it was mainly occupied by the launch pads, assembly buildings, and housing for his design bureau. It includes the launch pads for the Tsiklon-2 and Proton rockets, and a 10,000 population living area. Project work began in 1970, with construction starting in 1972, on a second Launch Complex LC-200 for the Proton and a new MIK-KA for spacecraft integration. The first pad was completed in 1977, the second in 1978, and the MIK-KA was first used in 1981. These facilities supported the military's second and third generation Proton-launched systems.

The 'Center' or 'Korolev' area included facilities for the projects of Korolev's OKB-1. It includes the R-7/Vostok/Soyuz 'Gagarin' launch pad (the first built at the cosmodrome) and the massive N-1 moon program facilities (later converted for use in the Energia-Buran program). It is located 30 km north of Leninsk. It consists of the First and Second Centers with the Gagarin pad, MIK (spacecraft/Soyuz assembly building), hotel, guest cottages, museum, and the cottages occupied by Gagarin and Korolev (now museums). Other facilities include the N-1/Energia launch complexes, including LC-110 (two launch pads), the single TK combination pad-test stand developed for launch and static test of the Energia rocket, and the cryogenics center with 12 m diameter tanks for LOX, LH2, and gaseous N2 and He (400 atmosphere storage). The TK is 40 km from Leninsk and 5 km from LC 110.

Buran-Energia facilities at the center included the MKS, with 10,000 m2, 200 technical and 50 technological areas; the N-1/Energia assembly building MIK, which was 225-240 m long x 121-190 m wide, 30-47 m high; the Buran landing field (4500 m long x 84 m wide), located 12 km northwest of LC1; and a city for 20,000 people, built for the N-1 program and later used again for Energia-Buran.

The 'Right Flank' or 'Yangel Arm' included facilities primarily for products of Yangel's design bureau. It was located 50 km from Leninsk. It includes a second R-7 pad, used as a backup pad for manned and planetary launches. 10 km south of this is the Zenit pad. This included two launch pads, a cryogenics center, and fifty technological systems. The pad was capable of automatic launch of Zenit and was rated for the manned launches that were planned using the Zenit vehicle.

Launch Pads

LC1 - Latitude: 45.9203 deg. Longitude: 63.3422 deg. Used by: Soyuz. First Launch: 1957-05-15. Last Launch: 2007-12-23. Number Launches: 602.

LC31 - Latitude: 45.9961 deg. Longitude: 63.5643 deg. Used by: Soyuz. First Launch: 1961-01-14. Last Launch: 2007-12-14. Number Launches: 204.

LC41/3 - Latitude: 45.9754 deg. Longitude: 63.6598 deg. Used by: R-16. First Launch: 1960-10-24. Last Launch: 1967-12-22. Number Launches: 31.

LC41/4 - Latitude: 45.9759 deg. Longitude: 63.6649 deg. Used by: R-16. First Launch: 1961-02-02. Last Launch: 1967-12-27. Number Launches: 82.

LC41/15 - Latitude: 45.9763 deg. Longitude: 63.6687 deg. Used by: Kosmos 3, R-16. First Launch: 1963-05-25. Last Launch: 1968-08-27. Number Launches: 22.

LC45/1 - Latitude: 45.9260 deg. Longitude: 63.6220 deg. Used by: Zenit. First Launch: 1985-06-21. Last Launch: 2007-06-29. Number Launches: 34.

LC45/2 - Latitude: 45.9433 deg. Longitude: 63.6532 deg. Used by: Zenit. First Launch: 1990-05-22. Last Launch: 1990-10-04. Number Launches: 2.

LC51 - Latitude: 45.9239 deg. Longitude: 63.3409 deg. Used by: R-9. First Launch: 1961-04-09. Last Launch: 1962-10-28. Number Launches: 16.

LC60/6 - Latitude: 46.0188 deg. Longitude: 64.0161 deg. Used by: R-16. First Launch: 1963-05-18. Last Launch: 1966-10-22. Number Launches: 6.

LC60/7 - Latitude: 46.0181 deg. Longitude: 64.0173 deg. Used by: R-16. First Launch: 1963-05-18. Last Launch: 1967-10-03. Number Launches: 8.

LC60/8 - Latitude: 46.0174 deg. Longitude: 64.0183 deg. Used by: R-16. First Launch: 1962-07-13. Last Launch: 1966-10-20. Number Launches: 12.

LC67/21 - Latitude: 45.9893 deg. Longitude: 63.7050 deg. Used by: MR-UR-100, R-36M, Tsiklon. First Launch: 1963-09-28. Last Launch: 1972-12-22. Number Launches: 27.

LC67/22 - Latitude: 45.9895 deg. Longitude: 63.7073 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1964-04-26. Last Launch: 1966-05-20. Number Launches: 13.

LC69L - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg.

LC69P - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg.

LC70 - Latitude: 46.0329 deg. Longitude: 63.0963 deg. Used by: R-9. First Launch: 1963-02-11. Last Launch: 1963-02-11. Number Launches: 1.

LC75 - Latitude: 45.9657 deg. Longitude: 63.1983 deg.

LC80/17 - Latitude: 46.0068 deg. Longitude: 64.0198 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1965-01-13. Last Launch: 1965-01-13. Number Launches: 1.

LC81/23 - Latitude: 46.0740 deg. Longitude: 62.9785 deg. Used by: Proton. First Launch: 1965-07-16. Last Launch: 2004-03-27. Number Launches: 104.

LC81/24 - Latitude: 46.0709 deg. Longitude: 62.9848 deg. Used by: Proton. First Launch: 1967-11-22. Last Launch: 2007-12-25. Number Launches: 54.

LC90/19 - Latitude: 46.0863 deg. Longitude: 62.9144 deg. Used by: Tsiklon, UR-200. First Launch: 1963-11-05. Last Launch: 1997-12-09. Number Launches: 113.

LC90/20 - Latitude: 46.0855 deg. Longitude: 62.9167 deg. Used by: Tsiklon, UR-200. First Launch: 1964-09-24. Last Launch: 2006-06-24. Number Launches: 11.

LC101 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: R-36M. First Launch: 1973-02-21. Last Launch: 1976-02-18. Number Launches: 9.

LC102 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: R-36M. First Launch: 1978-06-29. Last Launch: 1978-06-29. Number Launches: 1.

LC103 - Latitude: 45.9523 deg. Longitude: 63.4448 deg. Used by: R-36M. First Launch: 1973-04-29. Last Launch: 1977-02-03. Number Launches: 11.

LC104 - Latitude: 45.9875 deg. Longitude: 63.4197 deg. Used by: R-36M. First Launch: 1972-10-19. Last Launch: 1974-12-23. Number Launches: 9.

LC105 - Latitude: 45.9503 deg. Longitude: 63.4962 deg. Used by: R-36M. First Launch: 1974-04-27. Last Launch: 1977-05-28. Number Launches: 9.

LC106 - Latitude: 45.9511 deg. Longitude: 63.4971 deg. Used by: R-36M. First Launch: 1974-06-24. Last Launch: 1983-03-30. Number Launches: 15.

LC107 - Latitude: 46.0460 deg. Longitude: 63.8100 deg.

LC108 - Latitude: 46.0460 deg. Longitude: 63.8150 deg.

LC109 - Latitude: 45.9525 deg. Longitude: 63.4452 deg. Used by: R-36M. First Launch: 1974-07-04. Last Launch: 2007-06-15. Number Launches: 27.

LC110L - Latitude: 45.9647 deg. Longitude: 63.3049 deg. Used by: Energia, N1. First Launch: 1971-06-26. Last Launch: 1988-11-15. Number Launches: 3.

LC110R - Latitude: 45.9622 deg. Longitude: 63.3102 deg. Used by: N1. First Launch: 1969-02-21. Last Launch: 1969-07-03. Number Launches: 2.

LC130 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: UR-100. First Launch: 1965-04-19. Last Launch: 1965-04-19. Number Launches: 1.

LC131 - Latitude: 46.0716 deg. Longitude: 62.9562 deg. Used by: UR-100, UR-100N. First Launch: 1965-07-17. Last Launch: 1990-11-20. Number Launches: 4.

LC132 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: UR-100N. First Launch: 2001-06-27. Last Launch: 2002-12-10. Number Launches: 2.

LC133 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg.

LC140/18 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: R-36M, Tsiklon. First Launch: 1965-04-27. Last Launch: 1978-09-12. Number Launches: 13.

LC141 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg.

LC142/34 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1968-10-28. Last Launch: 1975-06-25. Number Launches: 24.

LC160 - Latitude: 46.0783 deg. Longitude: 62.9423 deg.

LC161/35 - Latitude: 46.0335 deg. Longitude: 63.0630 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1967-03-22. Last Launch: 1973-10-08. Number Launches: 28.

LC162/36 - Latitude: 46.0323 deg. Longitude: 63.0668 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1966-09-17. Last Launch: 1975-01-21. Number Launches: 37.

LC163 - Latitude: 46.0020 deg. Longitude: 63.1720 deg.

LC164 - Latitude: 45.9445 deg. Longitude: 63.0640 deg.

LC165 - Latitude: 45.9912 deg. Longitude: 62.9185 deg.

LC170 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: MR-UR-100. First Launch: 1976-06-15. Last Launch: 1979-08-30. Number Launches: 9.

LC171 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg.

LC172 - Latitude: 46.0650 deg. Longitude: 63.0920 deg. Used by: MR-UR-100. First Launch: 1978-10-02. Last Launch: 1981-04-18. Number Launches: 4.

LC173 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: MR-UR-100. First Launch: 1972-09-15. Last Launch: 1978-08-11. Number Launches: 28.

LC174 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg.

LC175/2 - Latitude: 46.0512 deg. Longitude: 62.9870 deg. Used by: UR-100N. First Launch: 1991-12-20. Last Launch: 2007-10-29. Number Launches: 8.

LC175/59 - Latitude: 46.0525 deg. Longitude: 62.9862 deg. Used by: UR-100N. First Launch: 1994-12-26. Last Launch: 1994-12-26. Number Launches: 1.

LC176 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg.

LC177 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: MR-UR-100. First Launch: 1973-04-06. Last Launch: 1978-09-12. Number Launches: 29.

LC179 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg.

LC181 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: MR-UR-100. First Launch: 1978-08-25. Last Launch: 1979-12-26. Number Launches: 4.

LC191/66 - Latitude: 45.9698 deg. Longitude: 63.1966 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1969-09-15. Last Launch: 1971-08-08. Number Launches: 4.

LC192 - Latitude: 46.0243 deg. Longitude: 63.2995 deg.

LC193 - Latitude: 45.9532 deg. Longitude: 63.3890 deg.

LC194 - Latitude: 45.8540 deg. Longitude: 63.3010 deg.

LC195 - Latitude: 45.7830 deg. Longitude: 63.2127 deg.

LC196 - Latitude: 45.8283 deg. Longitude: 63.1477 deg.

LC200/39 - Latitude: 46.0399 deg. Longitude: 63.0320 deg. Used by: Proton. First Launch: 1980-02-20. Last Launch: 2007-11-17. Number Launches: 111.

LC200/40 - Latitude: 46.0364 deg. Longitude: 63.0379 deg. Used by: Proton. First Launch: 1977-07-23. Last Launch: 1991-03-31. Number Launches: 64.

LC241 - Latitude: 45.8583 deg. Longitude: 63.4558 deg.

LC242 - Latitude: 45.9407 deg. Longitude: 63.4626 deg.

LC243 - Latitude: 45.8549 deg. Longitude: 63.7370 deg.

LC244 - Latitude: 45.8403 deg. Longitude: 63.6346 deg.

LC245 - Latitude: 45.8175 deg. Longitude: 63.5271 deg.

LC246 - Latitude: 45.7656 deg. Longitude: 63.4236 deg.

LC250 - Latitude: 46.0083 deg. Longitude: 63.3049 deg. Used by: Energia. First Launch: 1987-05-15. Last Launch: 1987-05-15. Number Launches: 1.

PL251 - Latitude: 46.0520 deg. Longitude: 63.2477 deg. Buran runway

PU31 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1965-10-01. Last Launch: 1968-08-14. Number Launches: 17.

PU32 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1965-08-03. Last Launch: 1967-09-08. Number Launches: 18.

PU33 - Latitude: 46.0000 deg. Longitude: 63.0000 deg. Used by: Tsiklon. First Launch: 1965-07-09. Last Launch: 1975-02-28. Number Launches: 17.

Jubilee - Latitude: 45.9551 deg. Longitude: 63.3503 deg. Jubilee Airfield

Krainiy - Latitude: 45.6192 deg. Longitude: 63.2132 deg. Krainiy Airfield

General / Launch Complex Unknown Chronology

1954 May 30 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Go-ahead for R-7 ICBM by designers council Council of Chief designers approval to proceed with development of R-7.

1955 January 12 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Tyuratam selected for ICBM test range. Council of Ministers selects Tyuratam for ICBM test site. The first 30 construction workers arrive at Tyuratam. The town founded at the rail staion is called Zarya (Dawn). The name will be changed to Leninsk in January 1958, but Zarya will remain the call sign of Soviet ground control.

1955 April - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Housing/road constructions starts at Tyuratam

1955 June 19 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. First surveyors arrive at Tyuratam.

1955 August - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. LC 1 launch pad excavation starts

1956 April 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. First concrete poured at pad A at Tyuratam

1956 August - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. First ground equipment installed at Tyuratam

1957 March 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Checkout of first R-7 starts

1957 May 5 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. 1st R-7 rolled out to pad

1957 August 26 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. R-7 ICBM announced publicly. Soviet Union announces successful launch of a "super longdistance intercontinental multistage ballistic rocket ...a few days ago," according to Tass Soviet News Agency.

1958 August 18 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Luna 8K72 B1-3 Luna launch delayed. Planned August launch rescheduled after failure of American lunar probe on August 17. Inability to complete final tests of the new engines and malfunctions during pre-launch preparations indicated a lot of work had to be done on the new launch vehicle before the first launch could be attempted.

1961 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. New ICBM tests announced. U.S.S.R. announced that it would launch a series of "more powerful and improved rockets. (Article in Red Star timed to coincide with first firing of new rocket series in the Pacific.)

1962 March 3 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1962 March 21 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1962 March 22 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 April 18 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 April 20 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1962 April 23 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 June 1 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1962 June 7 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1962 June 9 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 June 14 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 June 19 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 June 21 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 July 21 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 July 21 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1962 July 24 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1962 July 29 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1962 August 8 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1962 September 27 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1962 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1962 October 22 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1962 November 22 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1963 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1963 February 14 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1963 February 22 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1963 March 11 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1963 March 14 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1963 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1963 June 13 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1963 July 24 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1963 September 12 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1963 September 17 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1963 October 18 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1963 November 5 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1963 December 4 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1963 December 8 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1963 December 21 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1963 December 25 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1964 January 4 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1964 January 9 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1964 January 12 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1964 January 22 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. FAILURE: Failure. Operational test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1964 January 22 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1964 January 25 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1964 February 2 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1964 February 26 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1964 March 1 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Molniya 8K78M s/n T15000-22 Venus launch delayed. Spacecraft: Venera 3MV-1. The launch was delayed due to malfunctions during prelaunch service.

1964 March 3 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1964 May 15 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1964 May 30 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. Operational test launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1964 July 31 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. Operational test launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1964 September 24 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Operational missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1965 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1965 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1965 March 4 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1965 March 6 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1965 May 20 - 03:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 June 19 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 July 10 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 September 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Molniya 8K78 s/n U103-27 E-6 Launch Postponement Spacecraft: Luna E-6. The launch was delayed due to malfunction of the RKS system of the Stages 1/2's control system during pre-launch service.

1965 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 November 3 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 November 5 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 November 26 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Molniya 8K78M Venus launch delayed. Spacecraft: Venera 3MV-3. The launch attempt was abandoned due to a launch vehicle malfunction during pre-launch preparations.

1965 November 30 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 December 19 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 December 30 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1966 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1966 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. SLI missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1966 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1966 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. SLI missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1966 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1966 April 21 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1966 June 11 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1966 August 15 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1966 October 27 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. SLI Last operational test launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1966 November 15 - Launch Vehicle: N1. First N1 hardware arrives at Baikonur.

1967 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. Operational missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1967 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. Joint flight trials launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1967 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. State trials missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1967 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1967 January 25 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure. Operational missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1968 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. Operational missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1968 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1968 - Launch Vehicle: R-9. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,160 km (720 mi).

1968 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi).

1968 July 16 - Launch Vehicle: R-16. FAILURE: Failure. Combat training launch Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1968 July 21 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Proton 8K82K Zond 7K-L1 s/n 8L Mass: 5,140 kg (11,330 lb). Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-L1. Block D stage exploded on pad, killing three people. Booster and 7K-L1 spacecraft were still intact however.

1969 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. Operational missile test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1969 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100. Operational test Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).