Molniya 8K78 | Luna-8
Launch Successful
L - -- : -- : -- : --
Instantaneous launch window.
Launch Window
Dec. 3, 1965, 10:46 a.m. - Dec. 3, 1965, 10:46 a.m.
Instantaneous launch window.
Dec. 3, 1965, 10:46 a.m. - Dec. 3, 1965, 10:46 a.m.
Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Spun out of control during the final parts of the descent, resulting in the spacecraft impacting the lunar surface on December 6.
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 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).
WIKIWill carry 26 different satellites on a ride-share launch mission, including Earth observation satellites, details TBD.
28th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station operated by SpaceX. The flight will be conducted under the second Commer…
A batch of 22 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
Malligyong-1 (meaning "Telescope-1") is a North Korean satellite officially declared to be for military reconnaissance purposes. It failed to reach o…
Fifth crewed flight to the Chinese space station.
This is a replacement satellite for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. The constellation will provide India with an alternative to GPS …
Geostationary communications satellite built by Airbus Defense and Space and based on the Eurostar Neo platform for Arabsat.
The Kondor-FKA is a small civilian radar Earth observation satellite designed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya as a civilian counterpart to the Kondor-E sate…
Last two operational (TROPICS-06 & TROPICS-07) satellites for NASA's Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a…