Start-1

Start-1
	Start-1 launch vehicle lifting off from the Svobodny Cosmodrome
Function	Small orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology
Country of origin	Russia
Size
Height	22.7 m (74 ft)
Diameter	1.8 m (5.9 ft)
Mass	47,200 kg (104,100 lb)
Stages	4
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	550 kg (1,210 lb)
Payload to SSO
Mass	167 kg (368 lb)
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	LC-5, Svobodny Cosmodrome; LC-158, Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Total launches	7
Success(es)	6
Failure(s)	1
First flight	25 March 1993
Last flight	25 April 2006
First stage – 15Zh58A
Powered by	1 MIHT-1
Maximum thrust	980 kN (220,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	263 s (2.58 km/s)
Burn time	60 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Second stage – 15Zh58B
Powered by	1 MIHT-2
Maximum thrust	490 kN (110,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	280 s (2.7 km/s)
Burn time	64 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Third stage – 15Zh58V
Powered by	1 MIHT-3
Maximum thrust	245 kN (55,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	280 s (2.7 km/s)
Burn time	56 seconds
Propellant	Solid
Fourth stage – Start
Powered by	1 MIHT-4
Maximum thrust	9.8 kN (2,200 lbf)
Specific impulse	295 s (2.89 km/s)
Burn time	207 seconds
Propellant	Solid
	[edit on Wikidata]

Start-1 is a Russian satellite launch vehicle based on the RT-2PM Topol, a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile developed by Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology.

History

The Start-1 launch vehicle derives its name from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) between the United States and the Soviet Union. The START I treaty called for both sides to limit their nuclear arsenals to 6,000 nuclear warheads atop a total of 1,600 ICBMs, SLBMs, and bombers. This led to a lot of surplus ICBMs on both sides, including the Soviet Topol. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia took over responsibility for executing the treaty. The Russian government decided to dispose of some of their ICBMs by using them as launch vehicles, which was an allowed method of disposal under the treaty.^[1]

Modification of the ICBMs into launch vehicles was carried out by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT), which also designed the Topol missile.^[2] On March 25, 1993 (13:15 UTC), the first Start-1 rocket was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome with a non-commercial payload. The first commercial launch was conducted almost four years later on March 4, 1997, from Svobodny Cosmodrome with a Russian payload. Since that time all flights of the Start-1 have been conducted from Svobodny. Currently, the Russian company United Start Launch manages the Start-1 program.

The most notable flight of the Start-1 was conducted on April 25, 2006, with the launch of the Israeli EROS B Earth observation satellite. The launch received more coverage than usual because of the tensions between Israel and Iran at the time. While the Eros B satellite is commercial, its primary customer is the Israeli government, which could use it to spy on Iranian military and nuclear facilities.^[3]

After EROS B launch the project ended due to small size of small satellite market and loss of business to other small launchers.^[4] Around 2016 thanks to the increase of the small satellite market and approaching end of life of Topol missiles MITT and RVSN management started to float the idea of resuming launches. In late 2018 MITT secured funding for the resumption.^[5] MITT plans to start launching again in early 2022.

Description

The Start-1 launch vehicle is derived from the RT-2PM Topol ICBM. The first three stages of the Topol missile are used as the first three stages of the Start-1 rocket and are essentially unmodified for their new purpose. A fourth stage, specially developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, and the payload shroud take the place of the nuclear warhead and are the main differences between the Topol ICBM and the Start-1 rocket. Additionally, a Post-Boost Propulsion System (PBPS) may be added between the fourth stage and the payload to circularize the orbit of the payload if necessary. The PBPS provides propulsion using a solid-propellant nitrogen gas generator. The gas goes through three pairs of nozzles that can swivel to maneuver the payload.

The Start-1 rocket is unique amongst launch vehicles in that its launch platform is mobile, allowing for the Start-1 to potentially launch from anywhere. The Start-1 launches from an unmodified Topol Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL). The TEL is a massive fourteen-wheeled vehicle, six of which pivot for steering. The launch vehicle is transported and launched inside a mobile Transport and Launch Carrier (TLC) carried by the TEL. The TLC consists of an air-tight composite cylinder that protects the launch vehicle and payload from variations in temperature and humidity. The TLC lies in the middle of the TEL lengthwise and bisects the driver's cab in two.

Before launch, the TEL is moved to the launch pad where it deploys four stabilizing jacks which lift the whole vehicle off the ground. Approximately 90 seconds before the launch, the TLC ejects the protective front nose cone, exposing the rocket so that it can launch. The TLC then is raised to a vertical position. During the launch sequence, the TEL uses compressed gas to force the rocket out of the TLC. Once the rocket reaches a height of approximately 30 meters (the height of the top of the TLC in the vertical position), the first stage ignites. The time from first-stage ignition to spacecraft separation is approximately 15 minutes.

Variants

Diagram of the Start rocket.

A version of the Start-1 rocket, simply called Start, was developed in parallel with the Start-1 program. Start differed from Start-1 by using the second stage of the Start-1 twice, giving it a total of five stages. With the extra stage, payload to low Earth orbit was increased to 850 kg. The first (and, so far, only) launch of the Start rocket occurred on 28 March 1995 from LC158 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The Start rocket carried Gurwin, an Israeli amateur radio satellite built by the Israel Institute of Technology;^[6] EKA, a Russian dummy test satellite; and UNAMSAT A, an amateur radio satellite built by the Autonomous University of Mexico.^[7] The rocket, however, failed not too long after liftoff, dumping debris and its payload into the Sea of Okhotsk. Little information has come forth from the Russian government as to what caused the rocket to fail, or even whether or not the Start program has been canceled.

Launch history

Flight number	Date (UTC)	Launch site	Version	Payload	Orbit	Result
1	March 25, 1993 13:15	LC-158, Plesetsk	Start-1	EKA-1 mass simulator	LEO	Success
2	March 28, 1995 10:00	LC-158, Plesetsk	Start	Gurwin UNAMSAT A EKA-2	LEO (planned)	Failure
3	March 4, 1997 02:00	LC-5, Svobodny	Start-1.2	Zeya	SSO	Success
4	December 24, 1997 13:32	LC-5, Svobodny	Start-1	Early Bird 1	SSO	Success
5	December 5, 2000 12:32	LC-5, Svobodny	Start-1	EROS A	SSO	Success
6	February 20, 2001 08:48	LC-5, Svobodny	Start-1	Odin	SSO	Success
7	April 25, 2006 16:47	LC-5, Svobodny	Start-1	EROS B	SSO	Success

References

^ "Start-1 Launch Vehicle". FAS.org.
^ Mark Wade. "Topol ICBM". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30.
^ Anatoly Zak. "Start Launcher". Russianspaceweb.com.
^ ""Тополь" выходит на рынок космических пусков" [Topol is coming to space launch market] (in Russian). 13 September 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ ""Адаптация не на словах, а практическая работа в условиях рынка"" [Don't pay lip service to the need to adapt, enter competitive market] (in Russian). 10 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ "Techsat 1, 1B (Gurwin 1, 1B / GO 32 / Gurwin-OSCAR 32)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
^ "UNAMSAT A, B (Mexico-OSCAR 30, MO 30)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-04-30.

Isakowitz, Steven J.; Hopkins, Joseph P.; Hopkins, Joshua B. (2004). "Start". International reference guide to space launch systems (4th ed.). Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. pp. 457–468. ISBN 978-1-56347-591-7 – via the Internet Archive.

External links

United Start Launch Website
Start-1 User's Guide, Volume 1 Vehicle Accommodations Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
Start-1 User's Guide, Volume 2 Cosmodrome Operations Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine

[1] "Start-1 Launch Vehicle". FAS.org.

[2] Mark Wade. "Topol ICBM". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30.

[3] Anatoly Zak. "Start Launcher". Russianspaceweb.com.

[4] ""Тополь" выходит на рынок космических пусков" [Topol is coming to space launch market] (in Russian). 13 September 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[5] ""Адаптация не на словах, а практическая работа в условиях рынка"" [Don't pay lip service to the need to adapt, enter competitive market] (in Russian). 10 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2019.

[6] "Techsat 1, 1B (Gurwin 1, 1B / GO 32 / Gurwin-OSCAR 32)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-04-30.

[7] "UNAMSAT A, B (Mexico-OSCAR 30, MO 30)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-04-30.

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v t e Soviet and Russian launch vehicles
Active	Angara 1.2 A5 Soyuz-2 2.1a 2.1b 2-1v UR Proton-M
In development	Amur Irtysh Yenisei
Retired	Dnepr Energia Kosmos 1 2I 3 3M N1 R-7 Luna Molniya M L Polyot Soyuz original L M U U2 FG Soyuz/Vostok Sputnik Voskhod Vostok L K 2 2M R-29 Shtil' Volna Start-1 Tsyklon original 2 3 UR UR-500 Proton-K Rokot Strela Zenit 2 2M 3SL 3SLB 3F
Cancelled (no launch attempts)	Tsyklon-4 Proton Light Medium

v t e Orbital launch systems
List of orbital launch systems Comparison of orbital launch systems
Current	Angara 1.2 A5 Ariane 6 Atlas V Ceres 1 1S Chollima-1 Electron Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon Heavy Firefly Alpha Gravity-1 GSLV H-IIA H3 Hyperbola-1 Jielong 1 3 KAIROS^† Kaituozhe 2 Kinetica 1 Kuaizhou 1 1A 11 Long March 2C 2D 2F 3A 3B/E 3C 4B 4C 5 5B 6 6A 7 7A 8 11 11H LVM3 Minotaur I IV V C Nuri OS-M1^† Pegasus XL Proton-M PSLV Qaem 100 Qased RS1^† Shavit 2 Simorgh SLS Block 1 Soyuz-2 2.1a / STA 2.1b / STB 2-1v SSLV Starship Tianlong-2 Unha Vega C Vulcan Centaur Zhuque 2
In development	Antares 330 Bloostar Cyclone-4M Deca Epsilon S Eris Gravity-2 Hyperbola-2 Irtysh Kuaizhou 21 31 Long March 9 10 12 Miura 5 MLV Neutron New Glenn New Line 1 NGLV Nova OS-M 2 4 Orbex Prime Pallas-1 Red Dwarf SLS Block 1B Block 2 Soyuz-7 Terran R Tianlong-3 VLM Vega E Zero Zhuque 3 Zuljanah
Retired	Antares 110 120 130^† 230 230+ Ariane 1 2 3 4 5 ASLV Athena I II Atlas B D E/F G H I II III LV-3B SLV-3 Able^† Agena Centaur Black Arrow Conestoga^† Delta A B C D E G J L M N 0100 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 II III IV IV Heavy Diamant Dnepr Energia Epsilon Europa I^† II^† Falcon 1 Falcon 9 v1.0 v1.1 v1.2 "Full Thrust" Feng Bao 1 GSLV Mk I H-I H-II H-IIB Juno I Juno II Kaituozhe-1 Kosmos original 1 2/2I 3 3M Lambda 4S LauncherOne Long March 1 1D^† 2A 2E 3 3B 4A Mu 4S 3C 3H 3S 3SII V N1^† N-I N-II Naro-1 Paektusan^† Pilot-2^† R-7 Luna Molniya M L Polyot Soyuz original FG L M U U2 Soyuz/Vostok Sputnik Voskhod Vostok L K 2 2M R-29 Shtil' Volna^† Rocket 3 Safir 1 1A 1B Saturn I IB V Scout X-1 Blue Scout II^† X-2^† X-2M X-3 X-3M X-4 X-2B^† B A B-1 D-1 A-1 E-1 F-1 G-1 Shavit original 1 SLV Space Shuttle SPARK^† Sparta SS-520 Start-1 Terran 1^† Thor Able Ablestar 1 2 Agena A B D Burner 1 2 Delta DSV-2U Thorad-Agena SLV-2G SLV-2H Titan II GLV IIIA IIIB IIIC IIID IIIE 34D 23G CT-3 IV Tsyklon R-36-O original 2 3 Universal Rocket UR-500 Proton Proton-K Rokot Strela Vanguard Vega original VLS-1^† Zenit 2 2M 2FG 3SL 3SLB 3F Zhuque 1^†
Classes	Sounding rocket Small-lift launch vehicle Medium-lift launch vehicle Heavy-lift launch vehicle Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future Symbol ^† indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)