The Vostok rocket (Russian Восток, translated as "East") was a derivative of the Soviet R-7 ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme but later used for other satellite launches.

The major versions of the rocket were:

• 8K72 - used to launch the early Luna spacecraft and the prototype Vostok spacecraft
• 8K72K - a refined version of the above. This was the version actually used for human spaceflight
• 8A92 - used for launching Zenit reconnaissance satellites throughout the 1960s
• 8A92M - modified version for launching Meteor weather satellites into high orbits.

On March 18, 1980 a Vostok-2M rocket exploded on its launch pad at Plesetsk during a fueling operation, killing 48. An investigation into a similar -- but avoided -- accident revealed that the substitution of lead-based for tin-based solder in hydrogen peroxide filters had resulted in the breakdown of the H₂O₂ and the resulting explosion.

Vostok 8K72K specifications

• Stage Number: 0 - Strap-on Boosters; 4 x Vostok 8K72K-0
  • Gross Mass: 43,300 kg
  • Empty Mass: 3,710 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 4 x 99,000 kgf (971 kN) = 3.88 MN
  • Isp: 313 kgf·s/kg (3.07 kN·s/kg)
  • Burn time: 118 s
  • Isp(sl): 256 kgf·s/kg (2.51 kN·s/kg)
  • Diameter: 2.68 m
  • Span: 8.35 m
  • Length: 19.00 m
  • Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
  • Engines: 1 x RD-107-8D74-1959 per booster = 4

• Stage Number: 1 - Core stage; 1 x Vostok 8K72K-1
  • Gross Mass: 100,400 kg
  • Empty Mass: 6,800 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 912 kN
  • Isp: 315 kgf·s/kg (3.09 kN·s/kg)
  • Burn time: 301 s
  • Isp(sl): 248 kgf·s/kg (2.43 kN·s/kg)
  • Diameter: 2.99 m
  • Length: 28.00 m
  • Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
  • Engine: 1 x RD-108-8D75-1959

• Stage Number: 2 - Final stage; 1 x Vostok 8K72K-2
  • Gross Mass: 7,775 kg
  • Empty Mass: 1,440 kg
  • Thrust (vac): 54.5 kN
  • Isp: 326 kgf·s/kg (3.20 kN·s/kg)
  • Burn time: 365 s
  • Diameter: 2.56 m
  • Span: 2.56 m
  • Length: 2.84 m
  • Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
  • Engine: 1 x RD-0109

See also

• Vostok spacecraft
• Vostok program
• Vostok 1