![[AUTO] Molniya 8K78 - image](/media?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2Fmolniya25208k78_image_20191201210000.jpg&w=1600)
Soviet Space ProgramMolniya 8K781/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Venera-1VA 1
Launched
February 4, 1961
Summary
Sputnik 7 launched on a Soviet Space Program Molniya 8K78 from 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan on February 4, 1961. The mission failed: Upper stage failed. It was Soviet Space Program's 21st launch, 1st this year and humanity's 95th orbital launch attempt. It was the 3rd Molniya 8K78 flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Venus flyby (Venus flyby).
- Result
- Upper stage failed.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Molniya 8K78 · Soviet Space Program
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Planetary Science · Venus flyby (Venus flyby)
- Milestone
- 3rd Molniya 8K78 flight · 1st this yearSoviet Space Program's 21st launch1st this yearhumanity's 95th orbital launch attempt2nd orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Sputnik 7 (Tyazhely Sputnik) was the first Soviet Venera 1VA probe, intended to reach Venus. The Blok L upper stage never fired because a power transformer failed in vacuum, leaving the probe stranded in low Earth orbit; the Soviets announced it as a heavy satellite test.
Pad
1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
21st launch from 1/5, 1st this year · 21st from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
487 launches from this pad · 1,565 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
43 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of KazakhstanOpen in maps
Questions
When did Sputnik 7 launch?
Sputnik 7 launched on February 4, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Why did Sputnik 7 fail?
Upper stage failed.
Where can I watch Sputnik 7?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Sputnik 7?
Molniya 8K78, flown by Soviet Space Program. Molniya 8K78 spec sheet
Where did Sputnik 7 launch from?
1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.
What orbit was Sputnik 7 going to?
Venus flyby (Venus flyby), a planetary science mission.