Energia Polyus

11K25

Mission Profile

Energia Polyus was the first launch of the Soviet Energia super-heavy-lift rocket, conducted on May 15, 1987, with the experimental Polyus (Skif-DM) space weapons platform as its payload. Standing 60 meters tall with a core diameter of 7.7 meters and generating a staggering 34,840 kN of thrust at liftoff from its four RD-170-powered liquid boosters and RD-0120-powered core, the Energia could lift an extraordinary 100,000 kg to low Earth orbit. While the flight demonstrated that Energia performed flawlessly, the Polyus payload failed to reach orbit due to a guidance error during its own engine burn. The Energia Polyus mission nonetheless stands as the debut of the most powerful rocket ever successfully launched, surpassed only by Saturn V in terms of liftoff thrust.