'lightning', GRAU index: 8K78M) was a Soviet and Russian launch vehicle derived from the R-7 Semyorka Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The two successful launches had had their probes (Venera 1 and Mars 1) fail en route to their respective planetary targets.

The core and strap-ons received the up-rated 8D74M engines and the Kosberg Bureau completely redesigned the Block I stage.

The Block A experienced a racing fuel regulator starting at T+26 seconds that caused premature RP-1 depletion and turbopump overspeed from the pump running empty.

By coincidence, this happened simultaneous with the scheduled Block A staging at T+290 seconds, but the shock from the pump disintegration prevented the separation command from being sent.

[2] The final flight of a Molniya-M lofted an Oko early warning satellite from Plesetsk on 30 September 2010 despite some apprehension that the launch vehicle, manufactured in 2005, had exceeded its storage life.

[3] Although originally developed for planetary probes, those had switched to the larger Proton booster by the 1970s due to increasing mass and complexity.