Molniya 8K78 (Strategic Rocket Forces)

The Molniya 8K78 is a non-reusable, inactive launch vehicle manufactured by Strategic Rocket Forces (established in 1959). It undertook its inaugural launch on 10/10/1960.

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.