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Vostok Rocket Family (NASA)
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The Vostok rocket (Russian Восток, translated as "East") was a
derivative of the Soviet R-7 ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme but later used
for other satellite launches.
The major versions of the rocket were:
- 8K72 - used to launch the prototype Vostok spacecraft
- 8K72K - a refined version of the above. This was the version actually used for human spaceflight
- 8A92 - used for launching Zenit spy satellites throughout the 1960s
- 8A92M - modified version for launching Meteor weather satellites into high
orbits.
On March 18, 1980 a Vostok-2M rocket exploded
on its launch pad at Plesetsk during a fueling operation,
killing 48. An investigation into a similar -- but avoided -- accident revealed that the substitution of lead-based for tin-based
solder in hydrogen peroxide filters had resulted in the breakdown
of the H2O2 and the resulting explosion.
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