Did Ukraine Design Better Rockets Than Russian Designers? Forgotten Soviet Rockets - A Summary
0:04 Introduction to Soviet Rockets: The video starts by highlighting the longevity and historical significance of the Soyuz rocket, based on the R-7 ICBM, and mentions the Proton rocket as another enduring Soviet-era design.
0:45 Ukrainian Contribution: Several Soviet launch vehicles, no longer used by Russia, were primarily developed in Ukraine, highlighting a significant contribution to space technology.
1:18 Key Figures in Rocket Development: The development of the R-7 rocket involved two major personalities: Sergei Korolev (chief designer) and Valentin Glushko (engine designer), who had differing views on propellants.
1:54 Formation of Ukrainian Design Bureau: Mikhail Yangel established a design bureau in Dnipro, Ukraine, which developed important missiles like the R-12, R-14, R-16, and R-36, later converted into launch vehicles.
2:22 Overview of Soviet Launch Vehicles: The video discusses various launch vehicles derived from these missiles.
2:25 Cosmos Rocket: Derived from the R-12 (SS-4) missile, it used a rare combination of UDMH and liquid oxygen for its second stage and could deliver up to 350 kg to orbit.
4:44 Cosmos 3 and 3M: Based on the R-14 (SS-5) missile, this larger rocket could carry 1.25 tons to LEO. The 3M variant, introduced in 1975, had improved second-stage maneuvering and flew over 400 times until 2010.
5:46 Cyclone Rocket: Based on the R-36 (SS-9) ICBM, the Cyclone 2 could deliver 3.2 tons to LEO. The Cyclone 3, introduced in 1977, added a restartable upper stage, increasing payload capacity and orbital versatility. It was primarily a Ukrainian rocket with Russian components.
8:48 Zenit Rocket: Developed by Yangel's bureau, Zenit was designed as a medium-lift vehicle using cryogenic propellants. It was more capable than Soyuz and about half as capable as Proton. The Zenit 2 launched 37 times between 1985 and 2007.
10:22 Zenit 3 and Sea Launch: The Zenit 3 added a third stage for geostationary launches and was used in the Sea Launch project, a collaboration between Ukraine, Russia, and Boeing, launching from a Pacific Ocean platform.
11:31 Zenit as Energia Booster: Zenit's first stage was also used as boosters for the Soviet Energia rocket, which flew only twice due to the Soviet Union's breakup.
12:14 Post-Soviet Developments: Several vehicles were developed post-breakup using Soviet technology.
12:28 Start-1 Rocket: Derived from the RT-2PM Topol ICBM, this mobile launch vehicle could place about 500 kg into orbit and launched seven times between 1993 and 2006.
13:18 Rokot Rocket: Based on the UR-100 (SS-19) missile, Rokot could carry 1.85 tons to LEO and launched various payloads, including Iridium satellites and the GRACE experiment.
13:58 Shtil-1: A submarine-launched ballistic missile converted for orbital launches, setting a record for the lowest launch site. It launched small payloads twice, in 1998 and 2006.
14:27 Dnepr Rocket: Based on the R-36M missile, Dnepr could deliver 4.5 tons to LEO. It was a low-cost launch vehicle in a Ukraine-Russia collaboration and launched 22 times, twice holding the record for most payloads in a single launch.
16:39 Dnepr's Role in SpaceX's Formation: In 2001, Elon Musk's attempt to purchase a Dnepr rocket led to a disagreement, prompting him to consider building his own rockets, ultimately leading to the creation of SpaceX.
17:15 Conclusion: The video ends with a reflection on the significant role of Ukrainian-developed rockets in space history and their indirect influence on the emergence of private space companies like SpaceX.