The Cyclone-4M is a Ukrainiancarrier rocket which is being developed for commercial satellite launches.
History
The Cyclone-4M is derived from the Tsyklon-4, which started its life as an all-hypergolic three-stage-to-orbit expendable launch vehicle planned for launch from a proposed site at the Alcântara Launch Center in Brazil. However, Brazil backed out of the partnership with Ukraine in 2015, citing concerns over the project budget, the ongoing financial situation in both countries, and the future of the commercial launch market.[7] In March 2017, Canadian company Maritime Launch Services announced plans to begin launching a modified version, the Cyclone-4M, which features a Zenit-derived LOX / RP-1 first stage in place of the originally planned R-36 ICBM-based first- and second-stage.
In November 2021, Maritime Launch Services CEO Stephen Matier stated that Nanoracks was to be the first client to fly a payload on the Cyclone-4M.[8]
Design
This new first-stage design would use four kerolox engines derived from the RD-120 used on the second stage of the Zenit. The standard RD-120, however, while manufactured in Ukraine, uses a number of Russian-made components which would have to be replaced with Ukrainian-made equivalents. It is also planned to fit each of these engines with a gimballing mechanism for steering (in the Zenit second stage the RD-120 is fixed to the frame while an RD-8 four-nozzle vernier engine takes care of the steering).[4] The second stage completed qualification tests in October 2019.[9]
Spaceport Nova Scotia
Cyclone-4M was planned to launch from a site in Canso, Nova Scotia.[10] Construction was originally scheduled to begin in 2018.[1][11] However, repeated delays pushed the start of construction to September 2022 for the access road, and March 2023 for work to start on the first launch pad.[12] MLS completed construction on the first launch pad in 2024. However, because of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the uncertainty it caused, MLS terminated the agreement to launch Cyclone from Spaceport Nova Scotia by third quarter 2024.[13]
This template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future
Symbol † indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)
