Molniya 8K78 Vehicle Overview
A complete overview of the Molniya 8K78 launch vehicle, including launch stats, vehicle info and launch locations.
Basic Info
Name
Molniya 8K78
Family
Molniya
Manufacturer
First Launch
10 Oct 1960
Successful Launches
20
Failed Launches
20
Rocket Info
Status
Inactive
Stages
4
Length
43.44 m
Diameter
3 m
Launch Mass
305 tons
Thrust
813 kN
Reusability
Not Reusable
Payload Info
LEO Capacity
1,900 kg
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.
Launch Sites used by Molniya 8K78
Baikonur Cosmodrome
World's largest space launch facility, pivotal for Russian space missions.