List of R-7 launches (1957–1959) explained

This is a list of launches made by the R-7 Semyorka ICBM, and its derivatives between 1957 and 1959. All launches are orbital satellite launches, unless stated otherwise.

Date and Time (GMT)ConfigurationSerial NumberLaunch SiteResultPayloadRemarks

1957

15 May 1957, 16:01R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
M1-5LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AFlight test, maiden flight of R-7.
Fire in the Blok D strap-on led to premature separation at T+88 seconds and vehicle breakup.
12 July 1957, 12:53R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
M1-7LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AElectrical failure caused the vehicle to roll at high speed, resulting in breakup at T+32 seconds.
21 August 1957, 12:25R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
M1-8LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test - World's first missile flight to achieve intercontinental range.
7 September 1957, 11:39R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
M1-9LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
4 October 1957, 19:28Sputnik-PS
(8K71PS)
M1-1PSLC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulSputnik 1World's first orbital launch
Maiden flight of Sputnik 8K71PS
3 November 1957, 02:30Sputnik-PS
(8K71PS)
M1-2PSLC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulSputnik 2First animal in orbit (Laika)
Final flight of Sputnik 8K71PS

1958

29 January 1958, 21:15R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
M1-11LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AICBM test. Improper separation of the strap-ons at staging damaged plumbing in the core stage. Vehicle lost thrust and the warhead impacted far off-target.
29 March 1958, 14:40R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
M1-10LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
4 April 1958, 15:30R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
M1-12LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
27 April 1958, 09:01Sputnik
(8A91)
B1-2LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureD1 s/n. 1Disintegrated 88 seconds into flight
Maiden flight of Sputnik 8A91
15 May 1958, 07:00Sputnik
(8A91)
B1-1LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulSputnik 3Final flight of Sputnik rocket
24 May 1958, 10:30R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
B1-3LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AICBM test. Blok A shut down prematurely and warhead separation failed.
10 July 1958, 07:42R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
B1-4LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/ATest of Luna 8K72 rocket. High-frequency vibrations caused the Blok D strap-on's combustion chamber to disintegrate. The strap-on broke away at liftoff while the rest of the booster impacted near the pad.
23 September 1958, 07:40Luna
(8K72)
B1-3LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureLuna E-1 No.1Excessive vibration caused the booster to disintegrate 92 seconds into flight
Maiden flight of Luna 8K72.
11 October 1958, 21:42Luna
(8K72)
B1-4LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureLuna E-1 No.2Excessive vibration caused the booster to disintegrate 104 seconds into flight.
4 December 1958, 18:18Luna
(8K72)
B1-5LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureLuna E-1 No.3Loss of hydrogen peroxide lubricant to the core stage turbopumps at T+245 seconds. Vehicle lost thrust and impacted downrange.
24 December 1958, 16:00R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
B3-16LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AICBM test. Loss of hydrogen peroxide lubricant in the Blok V strap-on, which separated 13 seconds prior to normal cutoff and staging. Manual shutoff command issued at T+130 seconds.

1959

2 January 1959, 16:41Luna
(8K72)
B1-6LC-1/5, BaikonurPartial failureLuna 1Guidance system malfunction
First human-made object to reach the escape velocity of the Earth
17 March 1959, 01:46R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
041081LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
25 March 1959, 05:25R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I3-18LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
30 March 1959, 22:53R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I3-20LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AICBM test. Loss of hydrogen peroxide lubricant at T+280 seconds. Core stage lost thrust.
9 May 1959, 18:59R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I3-21LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
30 May 1959, 21:42R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I3-22LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AICBM test. Partial failure. Core stage engines failed to shut off on schedule and the warhead overshot its target by 1890 km.
9 June 1959, 20:34R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I3-23LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AICBM test, missed target
18 June 1959, 08:08Luna
(8K72)
I1-7LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureLuna E-1A No.1Spilled gyroscope led to control failure at T+153 seconds. Manual shutoff command sent.
18 July 1959, 18:15R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I3-24LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
30 July 1959, 04:00R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
041082LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
13 August 1959, 23:14R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I3-25LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
12 September 1959, 06:39Luna
(8K72)
I1-7BLC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulLuna 2
18 September 1959, 16:02R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I1-1TLC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
4 October 1959, 00:43Luna
(8K72)
I1-8LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulLuna 3
22 October 1959, 17:30R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
267432LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
25 October 1959, 17:32R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
267434LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
1 November 1959, 21:23R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
267431LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
20 November 1959, 21:06R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
I2-1TLC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
27 November 1959, 01:12R-7 Semyorka
(8K71)
267433LC-1/5, BaikonurSuccessfulN/AICBM test
23 December 1959, 19:05R-7A Semyorka
(8K74)
I1-1LC-1/5, BaikonurFailureN/AICBM test, Maiden flight of R-7A, Thrust vectoring failed

References