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 "Molniya" Space booster.
(Industry designation 8K78, Western designation SL-6).
Space booster was designed in 1958-1960 at Special Designed Bureau #1. It was designed specially for launching "light" probes to Mars, Venus and "heavy" probes to Moon. Booster was developed on the basis of ICBM R-7 and "Vostok" space booster.
Two new blocks, stage #3 - block "I" and stage #4 - block "L" were added to standard cluster of R-7 ICBM. The main factory of manufacturing that booster was "Progress" Plant in Samara city.
First test launch of the "Molniya" booster was conducted October 10th, 1960. All together until 2000 year there were 282 launches, including 20 accidents.
Specification of "Molniya" and "Molniya-M" space boosters.
Launch weight..................................305,000 kg (307,000 kg)
Thrust................................................................407,000 kg
Length.......................................................43.24 m (45.2 m)
Diameter of cluster....................................................10.3 m
Payload weight
Low Earth Orbit.......................................6,500 kg (7,200 kg)
Escape trajectory...................................................1,600 kg
Propellant
All stages........................................................kerosene+02
Stage 1........................................................ engine RD-107
Stage 2........................................................ engine RD-108
Stage 3........................................................ engine RD-107
Stage 4....................................................... engine S1.5400
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