Editing R-7 Semyorka (section)

== Testing ==
The existing testing site at [[Kapustin Yar]] was inadequate for the testing required for the R-7. Therefore a new site in Kazakhstan that would eventually become the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] was approved on 12 February 1955.{{sfn|Siddiqi|2000|pp=133–135}} The first series of test commenced when a flight-ready vehicle was delivered on 1 May 1957, and flown on 15 May. A fire broke out in one of the strap-on boosters almost immediately at liftoff. The missile broke away from the booster 88 seconds after liftoff and crashed {{convert|400|km|mi nmi}} downrange. During the next attempt on 11 June an electrical short caused the missile to start rolling uncontrollably and disintegrate 33 seconds after liftoff.{{sfn|Siddiqi|2000|pp=157–160}}

The first successful long flight, of {{convert|6000|km|mi nmi}}, was made on 21 August 1957 with the missile reaching the target at [[Kura Missile Test Range|Kamchatka]], however the dummy warhead disintegrated in the upper atmosphere. Five days later, TASS announced that the Soviet Union had successfully tested the worlds's first intercontinental ballistic missile.{{sfn|Siddiqi|2000|pp=160–161}}<ref name="NASM">{{cite web |title=The Military Rockets that Launched the Space Age |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/military-rockets-launched-space-age |website=National Air and Space Museum |date=9 August 2023 |access-date=24 December 2023}}</ref> A second successful test took place on 7 September 1957, with the missile again travelling {{cvt|6,000|km|mi nmi}}. However again the dummy warhead disintegrated in the upper atmosphere. The first series of tests concluded on 10 July 1958.{{sfn|Siddiqi|2000|pp=174, 213}}

The second test series incorporating improvements commenced on 24 December 1958 and concluded on 27 December 1959. Seven of the eight test launches were successful. Problems were resolved during these intensive tests and the missile was declared operational on 20 January 1960.{{sfn|Siddiqi|2000|p=213}}