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astronautix.com Molniya 8K78

Molniya LV
Molniya LV -

Credit: © Mark Wade. 1,326 bytes. 74 x 326 pixels.



Family: R-7. Country: Russia. Status: Hardware. Other Designations: Molniya. Library of Congress Designation: A-2-e. Department of Defence Designation: SL-6. Article Number: 8K74. Manufacturer's Designation: R-7A.

On 15 January 1960 Korolev signed the order for development of a four stage rocket based on the R-7. The draft project was completed on 10 May 1960. The original design was intended for launch of unmanned probes toward Mars, but it had universal uses.

The first two stages - the four strap-ons of the first stage and the second core stage - were based on the R-7 ICBM, but reinforced for the heavier upper stages.

On aerodynamic grounds the new third stage had to follow closely the diameter of the Vostok third stage; it could only be increased from the Vostok's 2.58 m to 2.66 m diameter. The new third stage used engines developed for the R-9 ICBM. Although first developed for the Monlniya 4-stage booster, it later would be used with modifications in the three-stage Soyuz launch vehicle.

The fourth stage would have to restart in weightless conditions in an earth parking orbit, presenting a number of problems. It needed to be equipped with an orientation and stabilisation system (SOIS) and a jettisonable engine section (BOZ). The BOZ had to start in weightlessness provide a low thrust to settle the propellants in the main stage so that the main engine could ignite. The stage was based on the existing Vostok third stage, with two toroidal tanks of 600 mm cross section, and a single S1-5400 Lox/kerosene engine.


Specifications

Launches: 25. Failures: 15. Success Rate: 40.00% pct. First Launch Date: 10 October 1960. Last Launch Date: 30 June 1970. Payload: 900 kg. to a: interplanetary trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 407,879 kgf. Total Mass: 303,500 kg. Core Diameter: 3.0 m. Total Length: 40.0 m. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 39.00 million. in 1985 unit dollars.


Molniya 8K78 Chronology


1960 Jan 15 -
1960 May 10 -
1960 Jun 4 -
1960 Oct 10 - - 14:27 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n L1-4M. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: At T+300.9 sec, the launcher went out of control and the destruct command was given at T+324.2 sec - the engine of Stage 3 cut off after 13.32 s of burning.
1960 Oct 14 - - 13:51 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n L1-5M. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: At T+290 sec Stage 3's engine 8D715K failed to ignite because a LOX leak froze kerosene in the fuel inlet to the pump on the launch pad due to a faulty LOX valve seal.
1961 Feb 4 - - 01:18 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n L1-6. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: At T+531 sec, the fourth vernier chamber of Stage 3's 8D715K engine exploded because the LOX cut-off valve had not closed as scheduled and LOX flowed into the hot chamber.
1961 Feb 12 - - 02:00 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n L1-7. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1.
1962 Aug 25 - - 02:18 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n T103-12. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: At T+60 min 50 sec one of the four solid motors of the escape stage's BOZ unit did not fire. The resulting asymmetric torque caused the stage to lose correct attitude and three seconds after ignition of the main engine S1.5400A1 it began to tumble.
1962 Sep 1 - - 02:12 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n T103-13. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: At T+ 61 min 30 sec the fuel valve did not open.; the ignition command was blocked from going to the main engine of Stage 4.
1962 Sep 10 - - 00:59 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n T103-14. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: At T+531 sec, the fourth vernier chamber of Stage 3's 8D715K engine exploded because the LOX cut-off valve had not closed as scheduled and LOX flowed into the hot chamber.
1962 Oct 24 - - 17:55 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n T103-15. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: 16 seconds after ignition of Stage 4, Block L's S1.5400A1 engine exploded. A lubricant leak resulted in the jamming of a shaft in the turbopump gearbox and break up of the turbine.
1962 Nov 1 - - 16:14 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n T103-16. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1.
1962 Nov 4 - - 15:35 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n T103-17. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: After T+260 sec, a malfunction of the pressurisation system of the central sustainer led to cavitation in the oxidiser pipeline and LOX pump, followd at T+292s by the fuel pump.
1963 Jan 4 - - 08:49 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78L s/n T103-09. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: The escape stage's BOZ unit failed to operate due to failure of a DC transformer of the power system. The stage with payload remained in Earth orbit.
1963 Feb 3 - - 09:29 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78L s/n G103-10. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: Failure.
1963 Apr 2 - - 08:24 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78L s/n G103-11. Launch Site: Baikonur .
1963 Nov 11 - - 06:23 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n G103-18. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: During unpowered coast in parking orbit the escape stage Block L lost stable attitude. Engine ignition occurred in an incorrect direction.
1964 Jun 4 - LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n R103-34. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: At T+104 sec the tank draining of core Block A failed due to jamming of the servo-motored throttle and break down of the motor's circuit The launcher was destroyed on impact downrange from the pad.
1964 Aug 22 - - 07:12 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n R103-36. Launch Site: Baikonur .
1964 Nov 30 - - 13:12 GMT. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1.
1965 Mar 12 - - 09:36 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78L s/n R103-25. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: The escape stage Block L's engine failed to ignite due to failure of a transformer in the power supply of the control system.
1965 Apr 10 - LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78L s/n R103-26. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. FAILURE: Stage 3's engine 8D715K failed due to depressurisation of the nitrogen pipeline of the LOX tank pressurisation system of Block I.
1965 Apr 23 - - 01:55 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n U103-35. Launch Site: Baikonur .
1965 Jul 18 - - 14:38 GMT. Launch Site: Baikonur .
1965 Sep 4 - LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n U103-27. Launch Site: Baikonur .
1965 Oct 4 - - 07:55 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n U103-27. Launch Site: Baikonur .
1965 Oct 14 - - 19:40 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n U103-37. Launch Site: Baikonur .
1965 Dec 3 - - 10:48 GMT. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78 s/n U103-28. Launch Site: Baikonur .
1970 Jun 30 - Launch Site: Baikonur . FAILURE: Failure in year noted; exact date unknown. .

Bibliography:



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Last update 12 March 2001.
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