Venera-1VA 2Molniya 8K78 Strategic Missile Troops Launch Status Success Sat ยท Feb 11th, 1961 7:43 PM EST Location 1/5 Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan 468 rockets have launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan. Rocket Molniya 8K78 Length: 43.44 meters Diameter: 3 meters First Launch: October 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. The Molniya 8K78 rocket has been launched a total of 2 times with 1 successful and 1 failed launches. Agency Strategic Missile Troops Abbreviation: RVSN RF Country: RUS View Rocket Launch Schedule