R-36O 8K69
R-36O family
· built by Yuzhnoye Design Bureau
· maiden flight 1965-07-28
Profile data last updated: 2026-08-29T15:37:07.354998+00:00 | 7531-10-17
The R-36O was the only orbiting military nuclear weapon ever deployed, although in order to remain legal under international treaties it was a 'fractional orbital' weapon. Although American infrared early warning satellites invalidated the 'surprise attack' component of the concept, 18 missiles were operational from 1969 to 1983.
Specifications
32.6 mLength
3.0 mDiameter
182 tLaunch mass
2Stages
Payload Capacity
No payload capacity figures published for this configuration.
Lifetime Launch Record
As reported by Launch Library 2 across this rocket's entire history, not just the launches tracked on this site.
21Total launches
19Successful
2Failed
0Upcoming
Launches Tracked on This Site
21In our archive
90.5%Success rate
Dec 16, 1965 14:09 UTCEarliest tracked
Jul 28, 1970 22:00 UTCMost recent
| Mission | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| R-36O 8K69 | R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 22 | Jul 28, 1970 22:00 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 21 | Sep 15, 1969 16:00 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 20 | Oct 02, 1968 13:35 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 19 | May 27, 1968 23:15 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 18 | May 20, 1968 22:05 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 17 | Apr 25, 1968 00:45 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 16 | Oct 28, 1967 13:15 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 15 | Oct 18, 1967 13:30 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 14 | Sep 22, 1967 14:05 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 13 | Sep 19, 1967 14:45 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 12 | Aug 08, 1967 16:05 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 11 | Jul 31, 1967 16:45 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 10 | Jul 17, 1967 16:45 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 9 | May 17, 1967 16:05 UTC | Success |
| R-36O 8K69 | OGCh 8 | Mar 22, 1967 14:05 UTC | Failure |