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
October 22, 1967 - 08:40 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 6

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
October 03, 1967 - 05:00 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1Yu 11L

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
August 31, 1967 - 08:00 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 5

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 24, 1967 - 22:50 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 4

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
October 20, 1966 - 07:50 UTC

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 - 07:10 UTC

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 - 07:20 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Luna-8

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
December 03, 1965 - 10:46 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Venera-4a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
November 23, 1965 - 03:14 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Venus flyby probe

Venus flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Venera-3

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
November 16, 1965 - 04:13 UTC

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Venus flyby and lander probe

Venus flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Venera-2

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
November 12, 1965 - 04:46 UTC

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Venus flyby probe

Venus flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 2

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
October 14, 1965 - 06:00 UTC

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 - 14:32 UTC

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Lunar flyby probe

Lunar flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Luna-6

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
June 08, 1965 - 07:40 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Luna-5

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 09, 1965 - 07:49 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 1

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 23, 1965 - 01:55 UTC

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 - 08:39 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Lunar Orbit

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Molniya 8K78 | Luna-5c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
March 12, 1965 - 09:25 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Zond-2

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
November 30, 1964 - 13:25 UTC

Status: Launch Successful

Mission:

Mars flyby probe

Mars flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Molniya-1 1b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
August 22, 1964 - 07:21 UTC

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 04, 1964 - 04:00 UTC

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 - 08:08 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Lunar Orbit

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Molniya 8K78 | Zond 1

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 02, 1964 - 02:42 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Zond 1c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
March 27, 1964 - 03:24 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Luna-5a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
March 21, 1964 - 08:15 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Lunar Orbit

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Molniya 8K78 | Zond-1b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
February 19, 1964 - 05:47 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Venus flyby probe and lander

Venus flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Zond-1a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
November 11, 1963 - 06:23 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

Solar orbiter and earth reentry capsule.

Heliocentric N/A

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Molniya 8K78 | Luna-4

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 02, 1963 - 08:16 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Luna-4d

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
February 03, 1963 - 09:29 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Lunar Orbit

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Molniya 8K78 | Luna-4c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
January 04, 1963 - 08:49 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Mars 2a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
November 04, 1962 - 15:35 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Mars 1

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
November 01, 1962 - 16:14 UTC

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Mars 1c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
October 24, 1962 - 17:55 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Mars flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Venera 2c

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
September 12, 1962 - 00:59 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Venus flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Venera 2b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
September 01, 1962 - 02:12 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Heliocentric N/A

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Molniya 8K78 | Venera 2a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
August 25, 1962 - 02:18 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Heliocentric N/A

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Molniya 8K78 | Venera-1VA 2

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
February 12, 1961 - 00:34:36 UTC

Status: Launch Successful

Unknown Mission

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Venera-1VA 1

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
February 04, 1961 - 01:18 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Unknown Mission

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

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Molniya 8K78 | Mars-1b

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
October 14, 1960 - 13:51 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Mars flyby

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Molniya 8K78 | Mars-1a

Strategic Rocket Forces | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
October 10, 1960 - 14:27 UTC

Status: Launch Failure

Mission:

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

Mars flyby

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