Sputnik 7 was the first Soviet attempt at a
Venus
probe. The probe was successfully launched into Earth
orbit with a SL-6/A-2-e launcher. The launch payload consisted
of an Earth orbiting launch platform (Tyazheliy Sputnik
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4) and the Venera probe. The fourth stage (a Zond rocket) was
supposed to launch the Venera probe towards a landing on Venus
after one Earth orbit but ignition failed, probably due to a
faulty timer, and the spacecraft remained in Earth orbit. Because
of its large size (6483 kg), the mission was originally thought
by non-Soviet observers to be a failed manned mission, and later
was described as a test of an Earth orbiting platform from which
an interplanetary probe could be launched.
