The R7 The Worlds First ICBM

Video from the channel Historyable about R-7 Semyorka, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 3:29. Language: English. Video type: Documentary.

A short piece on the R-7, the first intercontinental ballistic missile, NATO reporting name SS-6 Sapwood. According to the video, it stemmed from the Soviet idea that its bombers would struggle to get through the air defences of the United States and Europe. It explains its architecture: a central module and four peripheral modules that make up the first stage and separate once their fuel is spent. Its accuracy was poor, with an error of between 2.5 and 5 km, offset by a 5-megaton warhead.

Only the R-7A version, with greater range and better guidance, was actually deployed, at just six launch positions, and was retired in 1968. It needed up to a day to fuel and its facilities were highly vulnerable. Updated versions still launch satellites and crewed missions to the International Space Station.