R-7 family development and major launches (1957–1991)

1. R-7 achieves first successful intercontinental test

   Aug 21, 1957Labels: R-7 8K71, ICBM test

   • Britannica
   • R 7 launches

2. Sputnik 1 reaches orbit on R-7 derivative

   Oct 4, 1957Labels: Sputnik 1, R-7 derivative

   • Sputnik 1
   • Sputnik rocket

3. Luna 1 becomes first craft to escape Earth

   Jan 2, 1959Labels: Luna 1, Luna rocket

   • Luna 1
   • Vostok L

4. R-7A enters service as operational ICBM

   Dec 31, 1959Labels: R-7A 8K74, ICBM service

   • R 7A
   • Britannica

5. Vostok-L begins orbital tests for human flight

   May 15, 1960Labels: Vostok-L 8K72, Korabl-Sputnik

   • Vostok L

6. Molniya rocket debuts for planetary missions

   Oct 10, 1960Labels: Molniya 8K78, Upper stage

   • Molniya rocket

7. Venera 1 launches toward Venus on Molniya

   Feb 12, 1961Labels: Venera 1, Molniya rocket

   • Venera 1
   • Molniya rocket

8. Vostok 1 launches first human into orbit

   Apr 12, 1961Labels: Vostok 1, Yuri Gagarin

   • Vostok 1
   • Vostok K

9. Voskhod rocket begins service for heavier payloads

   Nov 16, 1963Labels: Voskhod 11A57, Heavy-lift

   • Voskhod rocket

10. Soyuz rocket makes its first flight with Kosmos 133

    Nov 28, 1966Labels: Soyuz 11A511, Kosmos 133

    • Soyuz rocket
    • Kosmos 133

11. First crewed Soyuz flight launches (Soyuz 1)

    Apr 23, 1967Labels: Soyuz 1, Crewed flight

    • Soyuz 1
    • Soyuz rocket

12. First docking of two crewed spacecraft (Soyuz 4/5)

    Jan 16, 1969Labels: Soyuz 4, Rendezvous docking

    • Soyuz 4
    • Soyuz 5

13. Soyuz-U debuts, standardizing the R-7 family

    May 18, 1973Labels: Soyuz-U 11A511U, Standardization

    • R 7 launches
    • Soyuz U stats

14. Soviet Union dissolves, ending Soviet-era R-7 story

    Dec 26, 1991Labels: Soviet Union, R-7 transition

    • Britannica
    • R 7