R-12 - Credit: © Mark Wade. 13,128 bytes. 155 x 465 pixels.

Payload 390 kg. Range 1500 km. Maximum altitude 398 km. Time of flight 11.8 minutes. Max velocity at burnout 3530 m/s. Accuracy 6 km in range, 5 km laterally. Source: wall chart, Russian Space Agency HQ, Moscow.

Launches: 1. Failures: 0. Success Rate: 100.00% pct. First Launch Date: 21 March 1963. Last Launch Date: 21 March 1963. Liftoff Thrust: 57,000 kgf. Total Mass: 34,610 kg. Core Diameter: 1.6 m. Total Length: 22.0 m.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x R-12 Gross Mass: 34,610 kg. Empty Mass: 4,810 kg. Thrust (vac): 63,785 kgf. Isp: 235 sec. Burn time: 108 sec. Isp(sl): 210 sec. Diameter: 1.6 m. Span: 1.8 m. Length: 18.0 m. Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene No Engines: 1. RD-214

• Authorisation for development of Soviet intermediate and intercontinental range missiles.

  Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on themes T1 and T2, on approval of work on the R-5, R-11, and EKR missiles, and on transferring draft project work for the R-12 from NII-88 to SKB-586' was issued. The decree set forth three phases of state trials tests for the R-5 missile.

• R-12 development authorised.

  Decree 'On the Creation and preparation of the R-12 (8K63) missile--start of work an the R-12' was issued.

• First launch of R-12 missile.

• USSR sells R-12 missiles to China.

  Ministry of Armaments Decree 'On transfer of two R-12 missiles to China (on August 6)' was issued.

• First launch of silo-based missile.

• R-12 accepted into military service.

  Decree 'On adoption of the R-12 into armaments' was issued.

• Development of Silo-Launched IRBM's and ICBM's approved.

  State Committee for Defence Technology (GKOT) Decree 'On creation of shaft units (silos) for the R-12, R-14, R-16, and R-9 missiles' was issued.

• First launch of R-12U from silo.

• R-12 test flight with live nuclear warhead.

  Nuclear Explosion in Semipalatinsk.

• Raketoplan Chelomei Spacecraft: Raketoplan. Payload: Subscale Raketoplan Chelomei.

  First flight of Raketoplan Chelomei, launched at 16:40 Moscow Time. The reentry vehicle is destroyed during reentry. Maximum Altitude - 400 km. Maximum Speed - 14,400 kph. Distance of free flight - 1900 km.

• R-12U, R-14U, and R-16U silo-based missiles accepted into service.

  Decree 'On adoption into armaments of the R-12U, R-14U, and R-16U shaft versions' was issued.

• R-12U and R-14U accepted into military service.

  Decree 'On adoption of the R-12U and R-14U shaft versions into armaments' was issued.

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MR-12 rocket - MR-12 sounding rocket and R-12 IRBM at Kaluga Credit: © Mark Wade. 13,838 bytes. 244 x 458 pixels.

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• 89 - Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994.