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.
A batch of 60 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
The SN10 Starship will perform a test flight similar to SN8 and SN9. It will launch up to an altitude of 10 km or 33,000 ft, do a belly flop maneuver…
Arktika-M ("Arctic-M") is a series of Earh observation satellites which will gather meteorological and hydrological data on polar region. Arktika-M s…
Amazonia 1 is a Brazilian optical Earth observation satellite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This satellite will further streng…
This is the 15th planned flight of the Orbital ATK's uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its 14th flight to the International Space Station under…
A batch of 60 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
The Progress MS-16 Spacecraft will resupply the International Space Station.
Alleged Chinese classified geosynchronous satellite. Payload identity uncertain.
A batch of 60 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.