Tsyklon-2

11K69

Mission Profile

The Tsyklon-2 (11K69) was a Soviet two-stage orbital launch vehicle derived from the R-36 ICBM, developed as an improved successor to the original Tsyklon and used primarily for launching Soviet naval ocean surveillance and electronic intelligence satellites. Standing 39.3 m tall with a 3 m diameter and a liftoff mass of 182 tonnes, it generated 2,740 kN of thrust and could deliver 3,350 kg to low Earth orbit. First flying in August 1969, the Tsyklon-2 became the primary launcher for RORSAT nuclear-powered ocean reconnaissance satellites and completed 106 launches over its operational life before retirement in 2006.