Tsyklon-4
Encyclopedia
The Tsyklon-4 or Cyclone-4, also known as Tsiklon-4, is a Ukrainian
carrier rocket which is being developed for commercial satellite launches. Derived from the Tsyklon-3
, it has a new third stage, a larger payload fairing
, and a modernised flight control system compared to its predecessor. Control system has been developed by the JSC "Khartron"
.
expendable launch system
built on the successful Tsyklon-3
rocket and it uses its first two stages. The new features are mostly concentrated in the newly developed third stage:
Also Tsyklon-4 will improve the fueling procedure, which will allow to capture toxic vapors of the propellant.
The new system will be able to inject 5,300 kg into Low Earth Orbit
, or up to 1,800 kg into a Geo-Transfer Orbit
.
. Launches from other sites, including the Baikonur
and Plesetsk Cosmodrome
s, are also reported to be planned.
for the Tsyklon-4.
The planned payload capacity of the Tsyklon-4 is 5500 kilograms (12,125.4 lb) to a 500 kilometre circular low Earth orbit
, or 1700 kilograms (3,747.9 lb) to geosynchronous transfer orbit.
In 2008, it was reported that Brazil may pull out of the programme in favour of an alternative partnership between it and Russia
to develop an Angara-derived rocket. However late 2009 Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko
and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
signed a joint declaration which included a commitment to launch the first Tsyklon-4 by the end of 2010 from Alcântara.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
carrier rocket which is being developed for commercial satellite launches. Derived from the Tsyklon-3
Tsyklon-3
The Tsyklon-3, also known as Tsiklon-3, GRAU index 11K68, was a Soviet, and subsequently Ukrainian orbital carrier rocket. A derivative of the R-36 ICBM, and a member of the Tsyklon family, it made its maiden flight on 24 June 1977, and was retired on 30 January 2009...
, it has a new third stage, a larger payload fairing
Payload fairing
Payload fairing is one of the main components of a launch vehicle. The fairing protects the payload during the ascent against the impact of the atmosphere . More recently, an additional function is to maintain the cleanroom environment for precision instruments.Outside the atmosphere the fairing is...
, and a modernised flight control system compared to its predecessor. Control system has been developed by the JSC "Khartron"
Khartron
JSC "Khartron" is a one of the leading design engineering bureaus of CIS , which develops and produces spacecraft control systems.- History and achievements :Khartron Corp...
.
Specifications
Tsyklon-4 is a three-stage-to-orbitThree-stage-to-orbit
The three-stage-to-orbit launch system is a commonly used rocket system to attain Earth orbit. The spacecraft uses three distinct stages to provide propulsion consecutively in order to achieve orbital velocity.-Examples of three stage to orbit systems:...
expendable launch system
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
built on the successful Tsyklon-3
Tsyklon-3
The Tsyklon-3, also known as Tsiklon-3, GRAU index 11K68, was a Soviet, and subsequently Ukrainian orbital carrier rocket. A derivative of the R-36 ICBM, and a member of the Tsyklon family, it made its maiden flight on 24 June 1977, and was retired on 30 January 2009...
rocket and it uses its first two stages. The new features are mostly concentrated in the newly developed third stage:
- The third stage has a three times larger propellant capacity;
- The new rocket engine RD-861K with multiple ignition capability (3 to 5 times);
- A modern western-like control system capable of precise orbit injections;
- A new fairing derived from Ariane 4Ariane 4Ariane 4 was an expendable launch system, designed by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales and manufactured and marketed by its subsidiary Arianespace. Ariane 4 was justly known as the ‘workhorse’ of the Ariane family. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the last, on 15 February 2003, it...
is under development. It has a diameter of 4 meters, controlled temperature and cleanness conditions inside.
Also Tsyklon-4 will improve the fueling procedure, which will allow to capture toxic vapors of the propellant.
The new system will be able to inject 5,300 kg into Low Earth Orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
, or up to 1,800 kg into a Geo-Transfer Orbit
Geostationary transfer orbit
A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit is a Hohmann transfer orbit used to reach geosynchronous or geostationary orbit....
.
Launch facilities
Tsyklon-4 will be launched primarily from the Alcântara Launch Centre in BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Launches from other sites, including the Baikonur
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
and Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:...
s, are also reported to be planned.
Development history
Development began in 2002, with the maiden flight aimed for 2006. Following a series of production delays, this has slipped, and is now scheduled for 2011. Alcântara Tsyklon Space has been established as a Launch Service ProviderLaunch Service Provider
A Launch Service Provider is a type of company which specialises in launching spacecraft. It is responsible for the ordering, conversion, or construction of the carrier rocket, assembly and stacking, payload integration, and ultimately conducting the launch itself...
for the Tsyklon-4.
The planned payload capacity of the Tsyklon-4 is 5500 kilograms (12,125.4 lb) to a 500 kilometre circular low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
, or 1700 kilograms (3,747.9 lb) to geosynchronous transfer orbit.
In 2008, it was reported that Brazil may pull out of the programme in favour of an alternative partnership between it and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to develop an Angara-derived rocket. However late 2009 Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a former President of Ukraine. He took office on January 23, 2005, following a period of popular unrest known as the Orange Revolution...
and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
signed a joint declaration which included a commitment to launch the first Tsyklon-4 by the end of 2010 from Alcântara.