Zond 3MV-1 No.2
| Mission type | Venus flyby[1] |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1[1] |
| COSPAR ID | 1964-F01 |
| SATCAT no. | 00277 |
| Mission duration | Launch failure |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 3MV-1 |
| Manufacturer | Lavochkin |
| Launch mass | 800 kg (1,800 lb)[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 19 February 1964, 05:47:40 UTC[1] |
| Rocket | Molniya 8K78M s/n T15000-19 |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5[1] |
Zond 3MV-1 No.2[3] (or Zond 3MV-1A No. 4A [4]), also known as Venera 1964A in the West, was a Soviet spacecraft, which was launched in 1964 as part of the Zond program. Due to a problem with its carrier rocket third stage, it failed to reach low Earth orbit.[4]
Launch
Zond 3MV-1 No.2 was launched at 05:47:40 UTC on 19 February 1964, atop a Molniya 8K78M carrier rocket flying from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[3] The launch started nominally, however, the third stage failed. A subsequent investigation concluded that an unpressurised valve (B4311-O) allowed LOX (liquid oxygen) to leak and come in contact with the RP-1 propellant while the rocket was still on the launchpad. This caused a pipeline to crack and, as Block I ignition began, an explosion destroyed the thrust section.
The remains of the stage and probe landed 52 miles (85 kilometers) north of the town of Barabinsk in Siberia.[5]
Western radar apparently detected the launch attempt, however, it was misidentified as a failed lunar probe in public sources.[5]
Scientific Instruments
The spacecraft bus included several scientific instruments:[1]
- Radiation detector
- Charged particle detector
- Magnetometer
- Piezoelectric detector
- LA-2 atomic hydrogen detector
- Kassoipeya radio telescope
- RSK-2M ultraviolet and Roentgen solar radiation experiment
- VIKT-2 technology experiment
- Plasma engines
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2018). Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958–2016 (PDF). The NASA history series (second ed.). Washington, DC: NASA History Program Office. pp. 37–38. ISBN 9781626830424. LCCN 2017059404. SP2018-4041.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Zond (3MV-1A #1, 2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- 1 2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- 1 2 Zak, Anatoly. "Russia's unmanned missions to Venus". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- 1 2 "The 3MV-1A No. 4A launch attempt". www.russianspaceweb.com. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
