Molniya 8K78 | Venera-1VA 1
Launch Failure
Upper stage failed.L - -- : -- : -- : --
Feb. 4, 1961, 1:18 a.m.
Instantaneous launch window.
Instantaneous launch window.
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 Yaogan-30 is a series of military remote sensing satellites which are launched in triplets. The satellites are spaced by 120° in their orbit.
The SN15 Starship prototype will perform a test flight similar to SN8 to SN11. It will launch up to an altitude of 10 km or 33,000 ft and do a belly …
A batch of 60 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
Officially described as an optical remote-sensing satellite built by SAST.
A batch of 60 satellites for Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
Tianhe (which translates as "Heavenly Harmony") is the core module and backbone of the Chinese space station, designed to provide the main living qua…
Pléiades Neo is a constellation of four optical high-resolution Earth observation satellites built and operated by Airbus. It is a dual purpose const…
Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.