Space Launch Now - Molniya 8K78

Molniya 8K78

In-active

Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN RF)

Oct. 10, 1960

Description

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.

Specifications

Stages
4
Length
43.44 m
Diameter
3.0 m
Fairing Diameter
―
Launch Mass
305.0 T
Thrust
813.0 kN

Family

Name
Molniya 8K78
Family
―
Variant
8K78
Alias
―
Full Name
Molniya 8K78

Payload Capacity

Launch Cost
―
Low Earth Orbit
1900.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
―
Direct Geostationary
―
Sun-Synchronous Capacity
―

Strategic Rocket Forces

Government

None

RVSN RF 1959

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).

Previous Flights

flew on 40 previous launch(es).

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 7

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 22, 1967, 8:40 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 6

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 3, 1967, 5 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1Yu 11L

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Aug. 31, 1967, 8 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya-1Yu satellites were modified Molniya-1 satellites to test and calibrate the deep space tracking systems of the Soviet lunar program.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 5

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 24, 1967, 10:50 p.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 4

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 20, 1966, 7:50 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 3

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 25, 1966, 7:10 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 3a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
March 27, 1966, 7:20 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-8

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Dec. 3, 1965, 10:46 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

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.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Venera-4a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 23, 1965, 3:14 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Venus flyby probe

Venus flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Venera-3

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 16, 1965, 4:13 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Venus flyby and lander probe

Venus flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Venera-2

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 12, 1965, 4:46 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Venus flyby probe

Venus flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 2

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 14, 1965, 6 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Zond-3

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
July 18, 1965, 2:32 p.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Lunar flyby probe

Lunar flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-6

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
June 8, 1965, 7:40 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Flew past the moon due to its main engine failing to cut-off during a mid-course correction.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-5

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 9, 1965, 7:49 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Impacted the Moon due to a ground control error.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 1

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 23, 1965, 1:55 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-5d

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 10, 1965, 8:39 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Failed to achieve orbit.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-5c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
March 12, 1965, 9:25 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Failed to leave Earth orbit due to a failure of the power supply in the control system.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Zond-2

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 30, 1964, 1:25 p.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Mars flyby probe

Mars flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 1b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Aug. 22, 1964, 7:21 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 1a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
June 4, 1964, 4 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The Molniya were Soviet communication satellites operating from an inclined highly elliptical earth orbit of 500 km × 40000 km with 12 hour period for coverage of high northern latitudes.

Elliptical Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-5b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 20, 1964, 8:08 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Failed to reach orbit.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Zond 1

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 2, 1964, 2:42 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Zond 1 was a 3MV-1 series Venus probes that carried a landing capsule. It failed during cruise phase and passed 100,000 km from Venus on 14 July 1964.

Venus flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Zond 1c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
March 27, 1964, 3:24 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Zond 1c was a 3MV-1 series Venus probes that carried a landing capsule. It was left in Earth orbit when the upper stage of the launch vehicle failed.

Venus flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-5a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
March 21, 1964, 8:15 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Failed to reach orbit.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Zond-1b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Feb. 19, 1964, 5:47 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Venus flyby probe and lander

Venus flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Zond-1a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 11, 1963, 6:23 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Solar orbiter and earth reentry capsule.

Heliocentric N/A

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-4

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 2, 1963, 8:16 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Failed a course correction maneuver and missed the Moon, remaining instead in Earth orbit.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-4d

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Feb. 3, 1963, 9:29 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Lost when the launcher failed to reach orbit.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Luna-4c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Jan. 4, 1963, 8:49 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Ye-6 series probe designed to land on the Moon. Lost in LEO due to a launcher upper stage failure.

Lunar Orbit

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Mars 2a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 4, 1962, 3:35 p.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Mars lander mission which failed when the booster/spacecraft complex broke up during the burn to Mars trajectory.

Heliocentric N/A

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Mars 1

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 1, 1962, 4:14 p.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Modified Venera-type spacecraft designed to flyby Mars at a distance of about 11,000 km. Its closest approach with the planet was at a distance of approximately 193,000 km, probably due to a failure of its orientation system.

Mars flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Mars 1c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 24, 1962, 5:55 p.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Modified Venera-type spacecraft designed to flyby Mars at a distance of about 11,000 km.

Mars flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Venera 2c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Sept. 12, 1962, 12:59 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The payload for this mission was a 2MV probe designed to flyby Venus.

Venus flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Venera 2b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Sept. 1, 1962, 2:12 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The payload for this mission was a 2MV probe designed to land on Venus.

Heliocentric N/A

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Venera 2a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Aug. 25, 1962, 2:18 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

The payload for this mission was a 2MV probe designed to land on Venus.

Heliocentric N/A

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Venera-1VA 2

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Feb. 12, 1961, 12:34 a.m.

Status: Launch Successful

Unknown Mission

There are no mission or payload details available for this launch.

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Venera-1VA 1

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Feb. 4, 1961, 1:18 a.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Unknown Mission

There are no mission or payload details available for this launch.

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Mars-1b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 14, 1960, 1:51 p.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

A Russian mars flyby probe intended to photograph Mars. The third stage failed to ignite.

Mars flyby

Explore Share

Molniya 8K78 | Mars-1a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 10, 1960, 2:27 p.m.

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

A Russian mars flyby probe intended to photograph Mars. The second stage failed.

Mars flyby

Explore Share

Recent Launches

Long March 6A

Success

1 day, 11 hours ago

SpaceSail Polar Group 09

Launch Complex 9A - Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies with…

Falcon 9

Success

1 day, 21 hours ago

NROL-172

Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Thirteenth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Offi…