(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Zenit

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Zenit
Zenit-2
Zenit-2
Zenit pad at Baikonur
Credit: Ukrainian Space Agency
Zenit was to be a modular new generation medium Soviet launch vehicle, replacing the various ICBM-derived launch vehicles in use since the 1960's (Tsiklon and Soyuz). A version of the first stage was used as strap-ons for the cancelled Energia heavy booster. But it was built by Yuzhnoye in the Ukraine; when the Soviet Union broke up planned large-scale production for the Soviet military was abandoned (Angara development was begun as an indigenous alternative). Launch pads were completed only at Baikonur; those at Plesetsk were never finished and are planned to be completed as Angara pads. However the vehicle found new life as a commercial launch vehicle, launched from a sea platform by an American/Ukrainian consortium.

Status: Active. Gross mass: 610 kg (1,340 lb). Height: 5.60 m (18.30 ft). Diameter: 0.42 m (1.37 ft). Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

Zenit development began in March 1976 in accordance with the specifications of GUKOS-MO. The Chief designer was V F Utkin at KB Yuzhnoye, with V P Radovskiy at KB Energomash being responsible for the engines, V G Sergeyev at NPO Elektropribor being responsible for the guidance system.

Work on the Zenit launch complex began in 1978. Trials of the first stage began in 1982 after a long and difficult development of the first stage engines (see the entry for the Energia launch vehicle for details). The first Zenit pad was ready in December 1983. Although the facilities were ready, the launch vehicles was held up continuing first stage engine problems. Former cosmonaut Gherman Titov was in charge of the state commission overseeing the trials. A series of 11 trials launches finally began on April 13 1985 and extended over the next two years, lofting a series of experimental payloads. In the spring of 1987 the state commission accepted the system for military use. They found that the automated launch system worked well and reliably, and the basic booster was accepted together with the Tselina-2 satellite. However much work remained to be done - construction of a second launch complex at Baikonur, qualification of a third stage for one metric ton geostationary payloads, and construction of a third launch complex at Plesetsk for launch of payloads into sun-synchronous and polar orbits.

The collapse of the Soviet Union a few years later ended these plans. The pads at Plesetsk were never completed. A three-stage version of Zenit did fly, but as a commercial vehicle from the Boeing Launch platform in the Pacific Ocean.


More at: Zenit.

Subtopics

Zenit-2 Ukrainian orbital launch vehicle. Two-stage version that continued to be used for launch of Russian military satellites tailored to it after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Zenit-2 11K77.05 Ukrainian orbital launch vehicle. Version with a dispenser for multiple Globalstar communications satellite launches.

Zenit-2M Ukrainian orbital launch vehicle. Two-stage version of the Zenit-3SL booster developed for the Sea Launch program, modified for launch from ground facilities at Baikonur. Uses the common Zenit-2SB core vehicle with no upper stage.

Zenit-2SB Two stage version of the Zenit launch vehicle consisting of 1 x 11S771 + 1 x 11S772.

Zenit-3SL Ukrainian orbital launch vehicle. From the beginning of the program a Zenit-3 version was proposed for geosynchronous launches using the N1/Proton Block D third stage. This had the potential of replacing the Proton in the role of geosynchronous launcher. It was considered for launch from Australia / Cape York in the 1980's. Finally a joint US-Norwegian-Ukrainian-Russian consortium was formed to launch the three stage commercial Zenit from the Odyssey floating launch platform in the Pacific Ocean.

Zenit-3SL (2) Russian orbital launch vehicle variant.

Zenit-3SLB Ukrainian orbital launch vehicle. Version of the Zenit-3SL modified for launch from existing ground facilities at Baikonur, using the common Zenit-2SB core vehicle with an upper stage Block DM-SLB designed by RSC Energia (Russia) and a new payload fairing designed by NPO Lavochkin (Russia).

Zenit-3SLBF Russian orbital launch vehicle variant.

Family: orbital launch vehicle. Country: Ukraine. Launch Sites: Salto di Quirra, Andoya. Agency: Yuzhnoye. Bibliography: 113, 2, 276, 279, 296, 4, 42, 455, 474, 5, 552, 554, 6, 61.
Photo Gallery

Zenit reconsatZenit reconsat
Zenit reconnaissance satellite
Credit: RKK Energia


Zenit 2 ReconnsatZenit 2 Reconnsat
Credit: © Mark Wade


Zenit-4MZenit-4M
Credit: © Mark Wade


Zenit-4Zenit-4
Credit: © Mark Wade


Zenit-2Zenit-2
Credit: © Mark Wade


Zenit-6Zenit-6
Credit: © Mark Wade


Zenit LVZenit LV
Credit: © Mark Wade



1976 March 16 - . LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1985 April 13 - . Launch Site: Baikonur. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Failure.
1985 June 21 - . 08:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. Launch Pad: LC45/pad?. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1985 October 22 - . 07:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1985 December 28 - . 09:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. Launch Pad: LC45/pad?. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Second stage failed to ignite. Partial Failure.. Failed Stage: 2.
1986 July 30 - . 08:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1986 October 22 - . 08:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1987 February 14 - . 08:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1987 March 18 - . 08:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1987 May 13 - . 05:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1987 August 1 - . 03:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1987 August 28 - . 08:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1987 September - . LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1988 May 15 - . 09:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1988 November 23 - . 14:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1990 May 22 - . 05:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/2. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1990 October 4 - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/2. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: First stage engine exploded after 3 seconds.. Failed Stage: 1.
1991 August 30 - . 08:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Second stage exploded due to heating problems in main engine.. Failed Stage: 2.
1992 February 5 - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Second stage malfunction due to heating problems in main engine.. Failed Stage: 2.
1992 November 17 - . 07:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1992 December 25 - . 05:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1993 March 26 - . 02:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1993 September 16 - . 07:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1994 April 23 - . 08:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1994 August 26 - . 12:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1994 November 4 - . 05:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1994 November 24 - . 09:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1995 October 31 - . 20:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1996 September 4 - . 09:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1997 May 20 - . 07:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Strut in first stage engine failed at T+48 seconds.. Failed Stage: 1.
1998 July 10 - . 06:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1998 July 28 - . 09:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1998 September 9 - . 20:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2 11K77.05. FAILURE: Computer error caused a very premature engine shutdown during second stage burn.. Failed Stage: 2.
1999 March 28 - . 01:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
1999 July 17 - . 06:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
1999 October 10 - . 03:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2000 February 3 - . 09:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
2000 March 12 - . 14:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL. FAILURE: Second stage shut down prematurely due to a valve software command mistake. The satellite fell in the South Pacific, south of Pitcairn Island.. Failed Stage: 2.
2000 July 28 - . 22:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2000 September 25 - . 10:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
2000 October 21 - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2001 March 18 - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2001 May 8 - . 22:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2001 December 10 - . 17:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
2002 June 15 - . 22:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2003 June 10 - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2003 August 8 - . 03:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2003 October 1 - . 04:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2004 January 11 - . 04:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2004 May 4 - . 12:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2004 June 10 - . 01:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.
2004 June 29 - . 03:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL. FAILURE: Partial failure - upper stage left satellite stranded in useless orbit.. Failed Stage: 3.
2005 March 1 - . 03:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2005 April 26 - . 07:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2005 June 23 - . 14:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2005 November 8 - . 14:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2006 February 15 - . 23:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2006 April 12 - . 23:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2006 June 18 - . 07:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2006 August 22 - . 03:27 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2006 October 30 - . 23:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2007 January 30 - . 23:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL. FAILURE: First stage exploded just after ignition, damaging launch platform.. Failed Stage: 1.
2007 June 29 - . 10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2M.
2008 January 15 - . 11:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Sea Launch Area. Launch Pad: KIR. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2008 March 19 - . 22:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2008 April 28 - . 05:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLB.
2008 May 21 - . 09:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2008 July 16 - . 05:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2008 September 24 - . 19:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2009 February 26 - . 18:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLB.
2009 April 20 - . 08:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2009 June 21 - . 21:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLB.
2009 November 30 - . 21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLB.
2011 January 20 - . 12:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLBF.
2011 July 18 - . 02:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLBF.
2011 September 24 - . 20:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2011 October 5 - . 21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLB.
2011 November 8 - . 20:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2SB.
2012 June 1 - . 05:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2012 August 19 - . 06:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2012 December 3 - . 20:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2013 February 1 - . 06:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL. FAILURE: A first-stage hydraulic pump failure 4 seconds after launch led to shut down 20 seconds later. The vehicle, with the Intelsat communications satellite, impacted the Pacific Ocean 56 seconds after launch.. Failed Stage: 1.
2013 August 31 - . 20:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLB.
2014 May 26 - . 21:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: SL Odyssey, Pacifi. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.
2015 December 11 - . 13:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLBF.
2017 December 26 - . 19:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SLBF.

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