Molniya

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Molniya 8K78 was a modification of the well-known R-7 Semyorka rocket and had four stages. Molniya (Молния) is Russian for 'Lightning'.

This derivative of the original three stage Vostok rocket was especially designed to bring high flying satellites into orbit or to launch probes to other planets. The first launch of this rocket was on October 10 in 1960 from Baikonur Cosmodrome. It was used in the 1960s to launch the majority of Soviet space probes to Moon, Mars and Venus. In the mid 1960s, it was superseded by the modernised Molniya-M.

Associated Spacecraft: Astron, Granat, Luna Ye-8-5M, Vega 5VK, Venera 4V-1, Venera 4V-2.

See also

• Molniya-M
• Soyuz launch vehicle
• Voskhod rocket

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