Start-1

Start-1. The Start-1 was a Russian small-lift launch vehicle derived from the RT-2PM Topol intercontinental ballistic missile, developed and manufactured by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology under the leadership of Alexander Nadiradze. It was designed as a commercial satellite launcher, utilizing mobile launch platforms originally intended for strategic missile forces to provide flexible and rapid deployment capabilities. The rocket saw limited operational use, primarily launching payloads for the Russian Space Forces and international customers from sites like the Svobodny Cosmodrome and the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

Overview

The Start-1 program emerged in the early 1990s as a conversion initiative for Cold War-era strategic missiles, part of a broader trend that included rockets like the Rokot and the Dnepr. Its primary purpose was to offer low-cost access to space for small satellites, leveraging the existing manufacturing base and operational infrastructure of the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces. The system was marketed internationally by commercial entities such as Space Transport Inc., aiming to compete in the burgeoning small satellite launch market. The vehicle's unique selling point was its fully mobile launch system, derived directly from the RT-2PM Topol's road-mobile transporter-erector-launcher, allowing launches from virtually any prepared site.

Design and Specifications

The Start-1 was a four-stage, solid-propellant launch vehicle, with its first three stages identical to those of the RT-2PM Topol missile. The first stage provided initial thrust and attitude control before separation, while the second and third stages continued the ascent through the atmosphere. A newly developed fourth stage, equipped with its own guidance and control system, was responsible for precise orbital insertion. The rocket's avionics and flight control systems were modernized versions of the original missile technology, managed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. Payloads were housed within a payload fairing, and the entire launch sequence was controlled from a mobile command post, a hallmark of its strategic missile heritage.

Launch History and Operational Record

The maiden flight of the Start-1 occurred on 25 March 1993 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, successfully deploying the EKA-1 experimental satellite. Subsequent launches included missions for the Russian Ministry of Defense, such as placing the Zeya military satellite into orbit in 1997 from the new Svobodny Cosmodrome. The rocket suffered its only failure on 4 March 1995 during an attempt to launch the Unamsat-1 satellite for the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Its final mission took place on 25 April 2006, launching the Eros-B1 Earth observation satellite for ImageSat International from Svobodny. Overall, the Start-1 achieved six successful launches out of seven attempts before the program was concluded.

Launch Sites and Facilities

Primary launch operations for Start-1 were conducted from the Svobodny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East, a site converted from a former Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces missile base. The mobile nature of the system also allowed for launches from the established Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwestern Russia. The launch complex typically consisted of a minimal concrete pad, with the transporter-erector-launcher vehicle positioning the rocket for a cold-launch sequence where the first stage ignited after being ejected from the canister by pressurized gas. Support facilities were minimal, relying heavily on the mobile command vehicles and existing military infrastructure, which reduced operational costs but limited the frequency and scale of launch campaigns.

Variants and Related Rockets

The basic Start-1 design led to the development of the more powerful Start-1.2 variant, which featured an enlarged payload fairing and a modified upper stage. A proposed further evolution was the Start-2, a heavier-lift vehicle that would have used multiple first-stage motors clustered together. The rocket family is directly related to other Russian converted ICBMs, such as the Rokot (based on the UR-100N) and the Dnepr (based on the R-36M), all managed under the umbrella of ISC Kosmotras. These programs shared the common goal of utilizing decommissioned strategic missiles for peaceful space launches under treaties like START I, though the Start series was unique in its emphasis on full road mobility.

Category:Launch vehicles Category:Russian rockets