R-7 (rocket family)

The R-7 (Russian: Р-7) rocket family is a series of launch vehicles descended from the Soviet R-7 Semyorka, developed in the 1950s as the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Over time, its design was largely standardized into the Soyuz rocket, which continues to operate in its modernized form, the Soyuz-2.

The R-7, developed by OKB-1 in Kaliningrad, a Soviet design bureau led by rocket pioneer Sergey Korolyov, was the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Initially designed to deliver nuclear warheads to American targets, it was first successfully tested on 21 August 1957.

[1][2] However, due to the weight of Soviet nuclear warheads, the R-7 possessed a significantly greater payload capacity than early U.S. ICBMs.

Over time, complete responsibility for the entire R-7 family shifted from the main OKB-1 office in Kaliningrad to Samara.