Sputnik 7

Russia

Spacecraft n°:

USSR spacecraft n°: 21

Launch data:

Designation00071 / 1961 Beta1 / 61002A
Launch date04 Feb 1961 - 1:18 UT
Launch siteB, LC1
Launch vehicle Molniya 8K78 (L1-7)
Launch masse6483 kg
Mission Venus probe (1VA #1)
Earth orbit:
Perigee/Apogee212 / 318 km
Inclination64,95°
Period89,78 min

Partial FAILURE: At T+531 sec, the fourth vernier chamber of Stage 3's 8D715K engine exploded because the LOX cut-off valve had not closed as scheduled and LOX flowed into the hot chamber.
The escape stage entered parking orbit but the main engine cut off just 0.8 s after ignition due to cavitation in the oxidiser pump and pump failure.. The payload attached together with escape stage remained in Earth orbit.

End of life

Decay26 Feb 1961
Lifetime22,70 days
Ref: #1, #7, #8, #15 - update: 30.11.04