Sputnik 19 - Venera 2a

USSR

Spacecraft n°:

USSR spacecraft n°: 37

Launch data:

Designation  000371 / 1962 A-Pi 1 / 62040A
Launch date  25 Aug 1962 - 2:52 UT
Launch site B, LC1
Launch vehicle  Molniya 8K78
Manufacturer's Designation 2MV-1
Mass  890 kg
Earth orbit
Perigee / Apogee 173 / 252 km
Inclination 64,88°
Period 88,73 min
Decay  28 Aug 1962

Venus probe, Partial Failure
At T+60 min 50 sec one of the four solid motors of the escape stage's BOZ unit, did not fire. The resulting asymmetric torque caused the stage to lose correct attitude and three seconds after ignition of the main engine S1.5400A1 it began to tumble.
Summary: The motor burnt for only 45s of the planned 240s. The stage remained in Earth orbit.

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor  
Customer  
Platform  
Mass at launch  890 kg
Dry Mass  kg
Basic shape  
Dimension  
Solar array  

Mission:

Ref.: #1, #7, #8 - update: 26.12.04 Home