N-4 n°3

Launch Failure

Liftoff Time (GMT)

14:39:00

Thursday March 24, 1966

Mission Details

Launch Notes

The interstage of the launcher was damaged, and the engine of the second stage exploded.

N-4 n°3

Wiki

N-4 n°3 is a satellite of the N-4 constellation. The N-4 heavy science satellites were developed by Vladimir Chelomei's OKB-52 in the early 1960s. Baptized "Proton", they will give this name to the UR-500 launcher which will put them into orbit. They are designed to study very high-energy particles in low Earth orbit, assess the hazard they represent, and determine the intensity and energy spectrum of electrons and gamma rays. These studies are not possible on Earth, because the charged particles are mainly absorbed by the atmosphere. They are sized to operate in orbit for forty-five days, and are equipped with four solar panels, several batteries and a thermoregulation system. The batteries are located in small capsules placed between the central body and the external envelope of the satellite. The satellite was destroyed in the atmosphere because of the failure of the launch.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

8,300 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Proton

Active 1965 to 1966

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center logo

Manufacturer

Khrunichev

Rocket

Height: 39.8m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 12,200 kg

GTO: 0 kg

Liftoff Thrust

8,387 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 4.15m

Height: 8.5m

Stages

2

Launch Site

Site 81/24

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Fastest Turnaround

6 days

Stats

Proton


3rd

Mission

1st

Mission of 1966

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center


180th

Mission

15th

Mission of 1966

1966


26th

Orbital launch attempt