Vostok - friznit/Unofficial-Tantares-Wiki GitHub Wiki
The R-7 derived launch vehicle was developed further for the Luna and Vostok programmes. Designated as 8K72, it launched the first moon probes and the first man (and the first woman) into space in the 1960's. Vostok-2 (8K72V) used uprated engines and launched the Zenit-2 recon sats throughout the 60's.
8K72 introduces a Blok-E third stage using the RD-0105 engine (Luna and Vostok-L test vehicle), which was replaced by the more reliable RD-0109 engine for Vostok-K and Vostok-2.
8K78 Molniya replaced the third stage with a larger, RD-0108 powered Blok-I and introduced a fourth stage for sending probes beyond earth's orbit. The product of a rushed development, only two launches succeeded and both of those probes (Venera 1 and Mars 1) subsequently failed en route. A redeveloped Molniya-M eventually adopted the improved and standardized Soyuz 11A57 core and boosters, and the RD-0110 engine on the upper stage. It was mostly used to launch Molniya and Oko early warning satellites.
11A57 Voskhod was an 8K78-M Molniya-M without the Blok-L fourth stage. Voskhod was basically a Vostok crew module redesigned to squeeze two extra crew on board. 11K59 Polyot was essentially the same LV used as a stopgap between the cancelled UR-200 and Tsyklon, and was used to launch the ASAT test vehicle in 1963.
Universal Storage 2 mod has some terrific payload bays designed to interface with Tantares Vostok pod
| Launch Vehicle | Boosters | Core Stage | Upper Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8K72 Luna | Blok-B, V, G, D RD-107 | Blok-A RD-108 | Blok-E RD-0105 |
| 8K72K Vostok-K | Blok-E RD-0109 | ||
| 11A57 Voskhod | Blok-I RD-0108 | ||
| 8K78M Molniya-M | Blok-I RD-0110 & Blok-L S1.5400 |
Basic Build Guide
- The core and boosters are identical to the Sputnik build.
- The earlier RD-0105 and RD-0108 engines do not feature in the mod, so all builds use RD-0109 & RD-0110.
- S1.5400 does not feature in the mod but any small vacuum engine can be substituted for Blok-L upper stage.
From top to bottom:
- Blok E Upper Stage (Luna & Vostok)
- A-USD01 Structural Decoupler
- A-USF01 Fuel Tank
- Tantares RD-0109 "Branntemmet" Rocket Engine
- RD-0109A "Gnisttemmet" Vernier Engines (in 4x symmetry)
- Blok I Upper Stage (Voskhod & Molniya)
- Canopus Size 1.5 Aeroshell Fairing
- Dorado Liquid Fuel Vent (on side of Tank A)
- Tantares Size 1.5 Fuel Tank A
- Tantares Size 1.5 Fuel Tank B
- Tantares RD-0110 "Hageugle" Rocket Engine
- R-7 Core & Boosters
- Castor Size 1.5 T-Decoupler
- Circinus Size 1.5 Staging plate
- Tantares Size 1.5 Tank C
- Tantares Size 1.5 to 1 Adapter Tank D
- Tantares Size 1 Fuel Tank D
- Tantares RD-108 "Litensegl" Rocket Engine
- 4x boosters in radial symmetry:
- Stock Radial Decoupler
- Tantares Size 1.5 Booster Fuel Tank A
- Tantares RD-107 "Hagehval" Rocket Engine
- Canopus Basic Fin B
Spacecraft
Meteor-1 Weather Satellite (Vostok-2M LV)
Vostok-K Alternative Builds
The 8K72K Vostok-K tapers in slightly towards the top of the core stage to match the diameter of the Blok-E and Vostok spacecraft. Tantares sticks strictly to standard KSP part sizes so the adapter parts taper from 1.875 to 1.25 and the Vostok spacecraft itself is scaled down accordingly, which can look a little off.
For a more accurate look, there is an optional rescale patch in GameData\TantaresLV\Parts\Soyuz\Soyuz_B9_Rescale (enabled by renaming .disabled to .cfg; note that B9 Partswitch and Module Manager are required). This adds a switch to adjust the top diameter of the adapter parts to 1.5m. There is also a thrust plate, decoupler and RD-110A engine in the same size to match. The Vostok spacecraft itself needs to be tweakscaled up slightly to the same diameter.
