闪电 8K78 | Luna-6

描述

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.

闪电（Molniya）是著名 R-7 谢苗卡（Semyorka）火箭的改进型，为四级构型。 8K78 源于科罗廖夫设计局为研制行星探测器运载火箭而展开的紧急计划。它在更大的第三级基础上增加了第四级（Blok L），用于在轨点火将载荷送出近地轨道。基础 R-7 芯级也在结构上加固并换装更强力的发动机。仓促的研制导致上面级多次故障，使其在 1964 年被改进型闪电-M（Molniya-M）取代，但剩余的 8K78 足够支撑其一直飞行到 1967 年。