YaRD ICBM

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YaRD ICBM

YaRD
Credit: © Mark Wade

Russian intercontinental range ballistic missile. Single-stage nuclear-powered ICBM designed by Korolev's OKB-1 in 1958-1959. Two ICBM variants were considered, using nuclear thermal engines designed by Glushko's OKB-456 and Bondaryuk's OKB-670. A third design under the same resolution was the Yakhr-2 space launcher, and the later Superraket N1 progenitor used the same engines. All used nuclear reactor engine modules in cylindrical housings, operating at 3000 - 3500 deg K.

Status: Cancelled 1960. Thrust: 128,000.00 kN (28,775,000 lbf). Gross mass: 84,400 kg (186,000 lb). Height: 25.00 m (82.00 ft). Diameter: 3.33 m (10.92 ft).

A 30 June 1958 resolution authorized development of this astounding weapon, and the draft project was completed on 30 December 1959. Perhaps coming under the heading of 'inadvisable rocket science', test launches would have been into an artificial reservoir in the target area to limit contamination by having the reactor crash into water at the end of its trajectory. While reentering nuclear reactors at the end of the ICBM trajectory may have been not considered on great consequence during global thermonuclear war, the consequences of missing the reservoir during peacetime tests were evidently too gruesome to consider. Further development of the engine was discontinued in 1960. Interestingly American spy Penkovskiy reported development of this rocket in 1962, but the story was not believed. Only in 1996 was the program revealed.

Stage Data - YaRD ICBM

Stage 1. 1 x YaRD ICBM OKB-670. Gross Mass: 96,000 kg (211,000 lb). Empty Mass: 8,800 kg (19,400 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,660.000 kN (373,180 lbf). Isp: 470 sec. Burn time: 235 sec. Isp(sl): 430 sec. Diameter: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Span: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Length: 23.00 m (75.00 ft). Propellants: Nuclear/Ammonia+Alcohol. No Engines: 1. Engine: YaRD OKB-670. Status: Study 1959. Comments: Nuclear-propelled ICBM with engines in development by Bondaryuk. Four expansion nozzles fed by single reactor. Payload 4,000 kg to 14,000 km. Empty mass, vehicle length calculated.

Stage 1. 1 x YaRD ICBM OKB-456. Gross Mass: 84,400 kg (186,000 lb). Empty Mass: 8,600 kg (18,900 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,370.000 kN (307,980 lbf). Isp: 470 sec. Burn time: 250 sec. Isp(sl): 430 sec. Diameter: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Span: 3.33 m (10.92 ft). Length: 21.00 m (68.00 ft). Propellants: Nuclear/Ammonia. No Engines: 1. Engine: YaRD OKB-456. Status: Study 1959. Comments: Nuclear-propelled ICBM with engines in development by Glushko. Four expansion nozzles fed by single reactor. Payload 2,600 kg to 14,000 km. Empty mass, vehicle length calculated.

Subtopics

OKB-456 Russian intercontinental range ballistic missile. Variant using a Glushko nuclear engine heating ammonia as a propellant.

OKB-670 Russian intercontinental range ballistic missile. Variant using a Bondaryuk nuclear engine heating mixed alcohol and ammonia as a propellant.

Family: ICBM. Country: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Bibliography: 89.

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