main page newsspace news25 years since the first launch of a zenit.

25 years since the first launch of a Zenit.. / April 13, 2010 /

Since the second half of the 70-ies, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome begun testing advanced space rocket complexes of a new generation of light, medium, heavy and super-classes of the unification of most components and systems: «Rokot», «Zenith», «Energy-Buran».

The salient features of the space vehicle "Zenit have versatility in providing prompt and massive launch spacecrafts, high environmental safety. This rocket was designed to replace the media like «Union». It was planned to eventually carry with it launches manned spacecraft.

To do this at the launch complex «Zenit» at the Baikonur Cosmodrome (site number 45) were built even special farm services for landing astronauts on board the ship. But the delay in the development of the ship under the «Zenith» on the one hand, high levels of congestion at the start (up to 4,5-4,7 units) and undesirable for the human body vibration spectra of the other is not yet possible to implement these plans.

The rocket complex «Zenith» is intended to launch various satellites weighing from 2 to 12 tons into low and medium earth orbits.

April 13, 1985 hosted the first launch of the Zenit.

In 1988, a set of «Zenith» was put into operation.

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