R-7 aft end Credit - © Mark Wade

The R-7A was an improved version of the R-7 first ICBM, and the one actually deployed to pads in Baikonur and Plesetsk. The missile saw service from 1960 to 1968. Four pads at Plesetsk, and one reserve pad at Baikonur, were operational at the peak of deployment in 1962. These were the Soviet Union's only strategic missile deterrent during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Development of the R-7A was authorised in a government resolution of 2 July 1958. The original R-7, with a range of 8,000 km, could not reach major strategic centres in the United States from Tyuratam. A 12,000 to 14,000 km range was necessary for this. Another alternative was basing from the more northerly Plesetsk launch site. Flight of trials of a related protoype, the R-7 Lot III with provisions for a nuclear warhead, began on 24 December 1958. Tests of this series concluded on 27 November 1959 and test of the first R-7A came on 24 December 1959. Despite this failed launch, Cold War pressures meant that the R-7A conditionally entered service on 31 December 1959. Of the series of eight prototype launches, only four reached the impact zone in Kamchatka, a range of 9,500 km being demonstrated. The R-7A was fully accepted for service by the military on 12 September 1960. A further updated 12,000 km range R-7A with a lighter warhead was flight tested in the early 1960's, but never put into service. This was identified by the Americans as the 'SS-6 Mod. 3'. Production of the R-7A was done at Aviation Factory Number 1, 'Progress', in Kuibyshev (Samara).

Construction of the launch facilities was in advance of the missile testing. Delivery of equipment for four operational launch pads at Plesetsk began in early 1959. The first launch complex (LC41, code name 'Lesobaza') was essentially complete and accepted by the military in November 1959. During 1960 LC16 became the second R-7A ICBM launch complex to become operational. All four R-7A launch complexes at Plesetsk, with LC31 at Tyuratam as an emergency alternate launch pad, were accepted by the military in July 1961. The Plesetsk pads were manned by a Strategic Rocket Forces regiment, consisting of one launch station group and four launch units. A major test of the regiment came on 16 July 1960, when the regiment conducted an exercise with launch of two R-7A's, demonstrating the radio guidance system, within 8 hours of each other.

The missiles on the four pads were programmed to hit New York, Washington, Los Angeles, and Chicago. During the Cuban missile crisis (11 September to 21 November 1962), an R-7A with a live thermonuclear weapon was held in readiness on pad LC41 for launch on the United States with an 8 to 12 hour reaction time from the go order. This was the only time an R-7A was actually armed with a nuclear warhead during its service life (early Soviet doctrine was that the warheads be stored and controlled separately).

The R-7A, with its slow reaction time and vulnerability to enemy counter-strikes, was withdrawn as more modern ICBM's were deployed in the 1960's. LC 41 was withdrawn from ICBM service in 1963 and converted to a space launch pad for R-7-derived launch vehicles. LC16 and the two pads at LC43 continued in service until the R-7A was withdrawn from military service in 1968. LC 16 was cannibalised to rebuild the LC1 at Baikonur, and LC43 was converted to use as a space launch facility.

Each operational R-7A launch site cost 500 million roubles. This included the expense of the down-range radar and the radio control stations, each of which had to be located in taiga or bog and required the building of new roads and power lines. The R-7A generated its cut-off signal internally using a battery-like electronic integrator. This required constant removal, recharge, and recalibration.

A third launch base for the R-7A was planned for Krasnoyarsk but never built.

Manufacturer: Korolev. Launches: 21. Failures: 3. Success Rate: 85.71%. First Launch Date: 1959-12-23. Last Launch Date: 1967-07-25. Launch data is: incomplete. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 3,996.850 kN (898,528 lbf). Total Mass: 272,900 kg (601,600 lb). Core Diameter: 2.99 m (9.80 ft). Total Length: 28.00 m (91.00 ft). Span: 9.76 m (32.02 ft). Standard warhead mass: 5,400 kg (11,900 lb). Maximum range: 9,500 km (5,900 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard RV: RDS-37. Standard warhead: 46A. Standard warhead yield: 3,000 KT. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 33.000 million. in: 1985 unit dollars.

• Stage Number: 0. 4 x Stage: R-7A 8K74-0. Gross Mass: 42,800 kg (94,300 lb). Empty Mass: 3,200 kg (7,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 995.300 kN (223,752 lbf). Isp: 313 sec. Burn time: 120 sec. Isp(sl): 256 sec. Diameter: 2.68 m (8.79 ft). Span: 2.68 m (8.79 ft). Length: 19.00 m (62.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-107-8D74K. Status: Out of production.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: R-7A 8K74-1. Gross Mass: 101,700 kg (224,200 lb). Empty Mass: 7,300 kg (16,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 940.400 kN (211,410 lbf). Isp: 315 sec. Burn time: 325 sec. Isp(sl): 248 sec. Diameter: 2.99 m (9.80 ft). Span: 2.99 m (9.80 ft). Length: 28.00 m (91.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-108-8D75K. Status: Out of production.

1957 January 11 - Launch Vehicle: R-7A.

• First Soviet ICBM base at Plesetsk is authorised. Nation: USSR. Decree 61-39ss 'On creation of launch complex Angara at NIIP-53' was issued. References: 474.

• Tikhonravov defined the development tasks for the Zenit reconnaissance satellite. Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Zenit. These included development of a three stage version of R-7, development of satellite guidance and control systems of the precision required for photography from orbit, satellite control equipment, ELINT sensors, guidance systems, film cassette return systems, and tracking systems for recovery of the re-entry vehicle with the film cassette.

• Special units formed to handle ICBM/IRBM nuclear warheads Nation: USSR. Deployment of the R-5M in 1956 caused the Sixth Directorate of the Ministry of Military Forces of the USSR's First Military Subdivision, consisting of two brigades, to be formed. The need for a new arrangement for safeguarding nuclear weapons deployed with field units led to a decree replacing the Sixth Directorate with a Twelfth General Directorate of the Ministry of Defence, charged with the development, trials, deployment, and security of nuclear warheads.

• R-14 IRBM, R-7A ICBM, and Raketoplan development authorised. Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Raketoplan. Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 726-346 'On start of work on the R-14 missile, on creation of the R-7A ICBM, and on creation of the winged-ballistic rocket at OKB-52' was issued. References: 474.

• R-7A flight test plan approved. Nation: USSR. Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On Work on the R-7 Product and Flight-Design Testing of the R-7A Product-- testing of the R-7 and R-7A ICBMs' was issued. References: 474.

• R-7A ICBM production approved. Nation: USSR. Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On production of the R-7A missile at Plant No. 1001 at Krasnoyarsk-26 and establishment of a branch' was issued. References: 474.

• Samara Filial 1 takes over design responsibility for R-7 and its derivatives. Nation: USSR. Decree 'On formation of the Design Department of OKB-1 at the Progress Plant in Kuibyshev' was issued. References: 474.

• Flight test series of production R-7A ICBM begins Nation: USSR. These tests proved the design of the missile actually deployed to pads in Baikonur and Plesetsk.

• Twelfth General Directorate of the Ministry of Defence charged only with ballistic missile warhead safekeeping Nation: USSR. This directorate's activities were limited specifically to safekeeping of the warheads of the RSVN rocket forces.

• R-7A I-1 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 21.

• R-7A I-3 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. References: 1596.

• R-7A I-4 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1596.

• R-7A I-5 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1596.

• Flight test series of production R-7A ICBM completed Nation: USSR. 15 launches were in the flight test series, with 14 successes. These rockets were completed at Aviation Factory Number 1, 'Progress', in Kuibyshev (Samara).

• R-7A I-6 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 759.

• R-7A I-7 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 759.

• R-7A accepted for military service. Nation: USSR. Decree 'On adoption of the R-7A into armaments' was issued. References: 474.

• Operational Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• R-7A II-1 operational test launch Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Some sources say first launch from LC31 was not until 27 February. References: 759.

• R-7A II-2 operational test launch Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Some sources say first launch from LC31 was not until 27 February. References: 1596.

• R-7A II-3 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Failure occurred only two days after Yuri Gagarin's flight. References: 759.

• R-7A II-4 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 759.

• R-7A II-5 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 759.

• R-7A II-6 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Two launches from one launch complex in the same day. References: 759.

• R-7A II-7 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). R-7A readiness verification test. References: 759.

• Operational Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Combat training launch Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Combat training launch Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Combat training launch Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Subdirectorate for Nuclear Operations was formed within the Twelfth Directorate Nation: USSR. As the number of ballistic missiles deployed increased, a specialised Subdirectorate for Nuclear Operations was formed within the Twelfth Directorate.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1478.

• Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1478.

• Twelfth Directorate nuclear weapons units an integrated part operational rocket field units Nation: USSR. Up to 1965 the warheads were still stored separately form Soviet ballistic missiles. This was changed so that the individual nuclear weapons units were made an integrated part of the operational rocket field units.

• Operational Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1478.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994. ISBN: 1896522815. Dual English/Russian language picture book of the history of the Energia Corporation. Many unique photos and drawings of Korolev's rockets and spacecraft. Republished by Apogee books in 2000. More at amazon.com...

• Varfolomyev, Timothy, Spaceflight, "Soviet Rocketry that Conquered Space - Part 1", 1995, Volume 37, page 260. 1: Sp 95/37-260; Sp 96/38-31 (8K71 launches); 2: Sp 96/38-48; 3: Sp 96/38-206; Sp 96/38-317 (designatons); 4: Sp 98/40-28; 5:Sp 98/40-85

• Vetrov, G S, S. P. Korolev i evo delo, Nauka, Moscow, 1998. ISBN: 5020036846. The collected papers of Soviet Chief Designer Korolev. A tremendous source of new information and insight on the Soviet space program. Russian language. More at amazon.com...

• Khrushchev, Sergei, Nikita Khrushchev and the Creation of a Superpower, Pennsylvania State University, 2000. ISBN: 0-271-01927-1. The English-language version of the memoirs of Khrushchev's son. A unique view of decision making in regard to the space and rocketry programmes at the highest level. More at amazon.com...