LAUNCH CENTER

Launch Image
Success
Sun Feb 12 1961
Soviet Space Program

Mission TBD

Launch Successful
LAUNCH TIME
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RECOVERY OVERVIEW

Location

No Recovery Specified

Type

No Recovery Specified

Rocket Details

Name:

Molniya 8K78

Description:

The Molniya was a modification of the well-known R-7 Semyorka rocket and had four stages. The 8K78 resulted from a crash program by the Korolev Bureau to develop a booster for launching planetary probes. A larger third stage was added along with a fourth stage (Blok L) that was designed to fire in-orbit to send the payload out of LEO. The basic R-7 core was also structurally strengthened and given more powerful engines. A rushed development produced multiple malfunctions of the upper stages, which led to its being replaced by the improved Molniya-M in 1964, but there were enough 8K78s left to continue flying them into 1967.

Molniya 8K78 rocket
MISSION OVERVIEW
  • Type:
COMPLEX OVERVIEW

Location

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan

Pad

1/5