Proton-K

Launch of a Proton-K carrying the Zvezda module of the International Space Station
FunctionHeavy-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerKhrunichev
Country of originUSSR
Russia
Size
Height50 metres (160 ft)
Diameter7.4 metres (24 ft)
Stages3 or 4
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass19,760 kg (43,560 lb)
Record: 22,776 kg (50,212 lb) with Zvezda[1]
Associated rockets
FamilyUniversal Rocket
Derivative workProton-M
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesBaikonur Sites 81 & 200
Total launches310
Success(es)275 (89%)
Failure(s)24
Partial failure(s)11
First flight10 March 1967[2]
Last flight30 March 2012
First stage
Height21.2 metres (70 ft)
Diameter7.4 metres (24 ft)
Empty mass31,100 kilograms (68,600 lb)
Gross mass450,510 kilograms (993,200 lb)
Powered by6 RD-253-14D48
Maximum thrust10,470 kilonewtons (2,350,000 lbf)
Specific impulse316 sec
Burn time124 seconds
PropellantN2O4/UDMH
Second stage – 8S811K
Height14 metres (46 ft)
Diameter4.15 metres (13.6 ft)
Empty mass11,715 kilograms (25,827 lb)
Gross mass167,828 kilograms (369,997 lb)
Powered by4 RD-0210
Maximum thrust2,399 kilonewtons (539,000 lbf)
Specific impulse327 sec
Burn time206 seconds
PropellantN2O4/UDMH
Third stage
Height6.5 metres (21 ft)
Diameter4.15 metres (13.6 ft)
Empty mass4,185 kilograms (9,226 lb)
Gross mass50,747 kilograms (111,878 lb)
Powered by1 RD-0212
Maximum thrust613.8 kilonewtons (138,000 lbf)
Specific impulse325 sec
Burn time238 seconds
PropellantN2O4/UDMH

The Proton-K, also designated Proton 8K82K after its GRAU index or SL-12 after its model number, was a Russian, previously Soviet, carrier rocket derived from the earlier Proton. It was built by Khrunichev, and launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The maiden flight on 10 March 1967 carried a Soyuz 7K-L1 as part of the Zond program. During the so-called Moon Race these Proton/Soyuz/Zond flights consisted of several uncrewed test flights of Soyuz spacecraft to highly elliptical or circumlunar orbits with the unrealized aim of landing Soviet cosmonauts on the Moon.

It was retired from service in favour of the modernised Proton-M, making its 310th and final launch on 30 March 2012.

  1. ^ "Zvezda Service Module". Khrunichev. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Proton". Orbital and Suborbital Launch Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2004-09-05. Retrieved 2009-03-05.

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