The Molniya (, meaning "lightning"), GRAU Index 8K78, 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. The Molniya also carried early Venera probes to Venus.
Molniya (E6) was a minor revision adapted for launch of some Luna series space probes.
Characteristics
Length: 43.440 m
Diameter: 10.300 m
Launch mass: 305,000 kg
Strap-On Boosters: Blok-B,V,G,D / 4 × RD-107
Stage 1: Blok-A / RD-108
Stage 2: Blok-I / RD-0107
Stage 3: Blok-L / S1.5400
Launches
Molniya rockets were launched 40 times:
See also
Molniya-M
Soyuz launch vehicle
Voskhod rocket
Venera 4V-2
References
1960 in spaceflight
1961 in spaceflight
1962 in spaceflight
1963 in spaceflight
1973 in spaceflight
Space launch vehicles of the Soviet Union
R-7 (rocket family)