OVERVIEW
R-7 / Sputnik
A launch vehicle derived from the R-7 design, which launched Sputnik 1 and became the foundation of a long Soviet and Russian rocket lineage.
LauncherR-7 / Sputnik
Contents
living encyclopedia entry4 sections · 1 images · 1 sources · 1 linksupdated · 6 Sept 2026#r-7-sputnik#vehicles
R-7 was originally developed as an intercontinental ballistic missile, but its design quickly became a foundation for space launches. A modified launcher carried Sputnik 1 and opened the way to early Soviet satellites and crewed flights.
A characteristic R-7 feature is its four strap-on boosters, which operate at liftoff alongside the central core. Later Soyuz-family variants retained the recognizable core concept and are among the longest-used launchers in history.
KEY CONTEXT
- Sputnik 1 launched on a modified R-7 in October 1957.
- The four-booster configuration is characteristic of the R-7 family.
- R-7 laid the technological groundwork for later Soyuz launch vehicles.
SOURCES & FURTHER READINGlast verified · 6 September 2026
◉ NASA photography — public domain✦ AI illustration — marked, generated from sourcesarticle text — CC-BY-SA
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