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Molniya 8K78M-PVB

Launch vehicle · Russia

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Russian orbital launch vehicle. Version of Molniya 8K78M with safety modifications to prevent and resist fires in all stages and the upper stage avionics compartment. These were incorporated as a result of the 18 March 1980 disaster at Plesetsk, when the launch vehicle exploded, killing 18 and putting the pad out of commission for three years.

The disaster review board requested changes to equipment and procedures, especially as regarded liquid oxygen handling. Reportedly the explosion occurred during the fuelling of the Block E upper stage, and was due to hydrogen peroxide being present in a lox line filter and a confusion between fuel and lox lines.

More at: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.

Related

Country
Russia
Spacecraft
Oko, Molniya-3

Chronology

10 events

1990 April 28

11:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC16/2. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Cosmos 2076 - . Payload: Oko #63. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. USAF Sat Cat: 20596 . COSPAR: 1990-040A. Apogee: 34,572 km (21,482 mi). Perigee: 5,748 km (3,571 mi). Inclination: 68.00 deg. Period: 717.10 min. Covered Oko constellation plane 1 - 277 degree longitude of ascending node..

1990 June 21

20:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB. FAILURE: Fourth stage failure.. Failed Stage: U.
  • Cosmos 2084 - . Payload: Oko #64. Mass: 1,800 kg (3,900 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. Decay Date: 1990-06-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 20663 . COSPAR: 1990-055A. Apogee: 666 km (413 mi). Perigee: 582 km (361 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 97.20 min. Launched into an erroneous orbit. There was no communication with the satellite. Covered Oko constellation plane 6 - 115 degree longitude of ascending node..

1990 July 25

18:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC16/2. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Cosmos 2087 - . Payload: Oko #65. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. USAF Sat Cat: 20707 . COSPAR: 1990-064A. Apogee: 36,991 km (22,985 mi). Perigee: 3,357 km (2,085 mi). Inclination: 67.50 deg. Period: 717.60 min. Replaced Cosmos 2084. Covered Oko constellation plane 6 - 117 degree longitude of ascending node..

1990 August 28

07:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Cosmos 2097 - . Payload: Oko #66. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. Decay Date: 2014-12-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 20767 . COSPAR: 1990-076A. Apogee: 37,021 km (23,003 mi). Perigee: 3,383 km (2,102 mi). Inclination: 66.50 deg. Period: 718.80 min. Covered Oko constellation plane 3 - 357 degree longitude of ascending node..

1990 November 20

02:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC16/2. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Cosmos 2105 - . Payload: Oko #67. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. Decay Date: 2008-01-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 20941 . COSPAR: 1990-099A. Apogee: 38,453 km (23,893 mi). Perigee: 1,936 km (1,202 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 718.50 min. Covered Oko constellation planes 3/4 - 12 degree longitude of ascending node..

1992 July 8

09:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Cosmos 2196 - . Payload: Oko #69. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. Decay Date: 2016-09-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 22017 . COSPAR: 1992-040A. Apogee: 36,915 km (22,937 mi). Perigee: 3,433 km (2,133 mi). Inclination: 67.10 deg. Period: 717.70 min. Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 75 degree longitude of ascending node..

1992 October 14

19:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Molniya 3-42 - . Payload: Molniya-3 s/n 50. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Program: Molniya. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: KAUR-2. Spacecraft: Molniya-3. USAF Sat Cat: 22178 . COSPAR: 1992-067A. Apogee: 38,190 km (23,730 mi). Perigee: 2,167 km (1,346 mi). Inclination: 64.00 deg. Period: 717.80 min. Operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radio communications system, transmission of television programmes to stations in the Orbita network and international cooperation. .

1992 October 21

10:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC16/2. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Cosmos 2217 - . Payload: Oko #70. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. Decay Date: 2010-11-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 22189 . COSPAR: 1992-069A. Apogee: 36,700 km (22,800 mi). Perigee: 3,642 km (2,263 mi). Inclination: 67.10 deg. Period: 717.50 min. Covered Oko constellation plane 8 - 201 degree longitude of ascending node..

1992 November 25

12:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Cosmos 2222 - . Payload: Oko #71. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. USAF Sat Cat: 22238 . COSPAR: 1992-081A. Apogee: 35,026 km (21,764 mi). Perigee: 5,330 km (3,310 mi). Inclination: 67.10 deg. Period: 717.80 min. Covered Oko constellation plane 1 - 270 degree longitude of ascending node..

1992 December 2

01:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M-PVB.
  • Molniya 3-43 - . Payload: Molniya-3 s/n 56. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Program: Molniya. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: KAUR-2. Spacecraft: Molniya-3. Decay Date: 2008-11-08 . USAF Sat Cat: 22255 . COSPAR: 1992-085A. Apogee: 39,109 km (24,301 mi). Perigee: 1,169 km (726 mi). Inclination: 64.20 deg. Period: 716.20 min. Operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radio communications system, transmission of television programmes to stations in the Orbita network and international cooperation. .