Molniya 8K78 (Strategic Rocket Forces)
The Molniya 8K78, manufactured by Strategic Rocket Forces established in 1959, undertook its inaugural launch on 10/10/1960, is non-reusable and is inactive.
Molniya 8K78 has 20 successful launches and 20 failed attempts, with a cumulative tally of 40 launches, currently with 0 pending launches in the pipeline.
The Molniya was a modification of the well-known R-7 Semyorka rocket and had four stages. n nThe 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.
- Length: 43.44 m
- Diameter: 3 m
- Launch Mass: 305 T
- LEO Capacity: 1900 kg
Manufacturer
Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN RF)
The Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation are a separate-troops branch of the Russian Armed Forces that control Russia's land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
