Proton-K

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Launch of a Proton-K carrying the Zvezda module of the International Space Station
Function	Heavy-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Khrunichev
Country of origin	Soviet Union · Russia
Size
Height	50 m (160 ft)
Diameter	7.4 m (24 ft)
Stages	3 or 4
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	19,760 kg (43,560 lb) Record: 22,776 kg (50,212 lb) with Zvezda[1]
Associated rockets
Family	Universal Rocket
Based on	Proton
Derivative work	Proton-M
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	Baikonur, Sites 81/23, 81/24, 200/39 & 200/40
Total launches	310
Success(es)	275 (89%)
Failure(s)	24
Partial failure(s)	11
First flight	10 March 1967[2]
Last flight	30 March 2012
First stage
Height	21.2 m (70 ft)
Diameter	7.4 m (24 ft)
Empty mass	31,100 kg (68,600 lb)
Gross mass	450,510 kg (993,200 lb)
Powered by	6 × RD-253-14D48
Maximum thrust	10,470 kN (2,350,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	316 s (3.10 km/s)
Burn time	124 seconds
Propellant	N2O4/UDMH
Second stage – 8S811K
Height	14 m (46 ft)
Diameter	4.15 m (13.6 ft)
Empty mass	11,715 kg (25,827 lb)
Gross mass	167,828 kg (369,997 lb)
Powered by	4 × RD-0210
Maximum thrust	2,399 kN (539,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	327 s (3.21 km/s)
Burn time	206 seconds
Propellant	N2O4/UDMH
Third stage
Height	6.5 m (21 ft)
Diameter	4.15 m (13.6 ft)
Empty mass	4,185 kg (9,226 lb)
Gross mass	50,747 kg (111,878 lb)
Powered by	1 × RD-0212
Maximum thrust	613.8 kN (138,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	325 s (3.19 km/s)
Burn time	238 seconds
Propellant	N2O4/UDMH
[edit on Wikidata]

The Proton-K, also designated Proton 8K82K after its GRAU index or SL-12 after its model number, was a Russian, previously Soviet, carrier rocket derived from the earlier Proton. It was built by Khrunichev, and launched from sites 81/23, 81/24, 200/39 and 200/40 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The maiden flight on 10 March 1967 carried a Soyuz 7K-L1 as part of the Zond program. During the so-called Moon Race these Proton/Soyuz/Zond flights consisted of several uncrewed test flights of Soyuz spacecraft to highly elliptical or circumlunar orbits with the unrealized aim of landing Soviet cosmonauts on the Moon.

It was retired from service in favour of the modernised Proton-M, making its 310th and final launch on 30 March 2012.