Zond 1964A
Encyclopedia
Molniya-1 No.2, was the first Soviet
communications satellite
to be launched. It was a 1600 kilograms (3,527.4 lb) Molniya-1 spacecraft, however it failed to achieve orbit due to a malfunction of the rocket which was carrying it. It was intended to operate in a Molniya orbit
, from where it would be used to demonstrate communications between parts of the USSR.
Molniya-1 No.2 was launched at 05:00 UTC on 4 June 1964, atop a Molniya
8K78 carrier rocket, flying from Site 1/5
at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
. A motor circuit in the servo
controlling the core stage throttle failed 104 seconds into the flight, resulting in the throttle becoming jammed closed and the fuel supply to the engines being stopped. Prior to the release of information about its mission, NASA had incorrectly identified the launch of Molniya-1 No.2 as a failed attempt to launch a Zond
spacecraft on a circumlunar technology demonstration mission, and assigned it the placeholder designation Zond 1964A.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
communications satellite
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
to be launched. It was a 1600 kilograms (3,527.4 lb) Molniya-1 spacecraft, however it failed to achieve orbit due to a malfunction of the rocket which was carrying it. It was intended to operate in a Molniya orbit
Molniya orbit
Molniya orbit is a type of highly elliptical orbit with an inclination of 63.4 degrees, an argument of perigee of -90 degree and an orbital period of one half of a sidereal day...
, from where it would be used to demonstrate communications between parts of the USSR.
Molniya-1 No.2 was launched at 05:00 UTC on 4 June 1964, atop a Molniya
Molniya (rocket)
Molniya 8K78 was a modification of the well-known R-7 Semyorka rocket and had four stages.This derivative of the original three stage Vostok rocket was especially designed to bring high flying satellites into orbit or to launch probes to other planets. The first launch of this rocket was on...
8K78 carrier rocket, flying from Site 1/5
Gagarin's Start
Gagarin's Start is a launch site at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, used for the Soviet space program and now managed by the Russian Federal Space Agency....
at the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
. A motor circuit in the servo
Servomechanism
thumb|right|200px|Industrial servomotorThe grey/green cylinder is the [[Brush |brush-type]] [[DC motor]]. The black section at the bottom contains the [[Epicyclic gearing|planetary]] [[Reduction drive|reduction gear]], and the black object on top of the motor is the optical [[rotary encoder]] for...
controlling the core stage throttle failed 104 seconds into the flight, resulting in the throttle becoming jammed closed and the fuel supply to the engines being stopped. Prior to the release of information about its mission, NASA had incorrectly identified the launch of Molniya-1 No.2 as a failed attempt to launch a Zond
Zond program
Zond was the name given to two distinct series of Soviet unmanned space program undertaken from 1964 to 1970. The first series based on 3MV planetary probe was intended to gather information about nearby planets...
spacecraft on a circumlunar technology demonstration mission, and assigned it the placeholder designation Zond 1964A.