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| Soyuz 7K-L1 |
Soyuz 7K-L1 (Zond) circumlunar spacecraft |
| Description |
| Role: |
Carry cosmonauts around the Moon and back to Earth. |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Dimensions |
| Height: |
|
4.88 m |
| Diameter: |
|
2.72 m |
| Volume: |
|
4 m³ |
| Performance |
| Endurance: |
7 days |
|
The Soyuz 7K-L1 was designed to launch men from the Earth to circle the moon in the context of the Soviet Soyuz programme. It was based on the Soyuz 7K-OK with several components stripped out to reduce the vehicle weight. The most notable modifications included the removal of the orbital module (providing extra space for living quarters or equipment) and a reserve parachute. It was the primary hope for Soviet circumlunar flight. Tests in the Zond program from 1967-1970 (Zond 4 to Zond 8) produced multiple failures in the 7K-L1's re-entry systems. The goal was scrapped, along with the two remaining 7K-L1s. Fifteen L1's were completed, of which only five ever returned to Earth.
[edit] Planned schedule
As of 1967, the Soyuz 7K-L1 launch schedule was:
Mission
- 2P -Develop Block D stage -Feb or Mar 67
- 3P -same -Mar 67
- 4L -Unmanned lunar flyby -May 67 (actually launched on September 27, 1967, booster failure)
- 5L -Unmanned lunar flyby -Jun 67 (actually launched on November 22, 1967, booster failure)
- 6L -Manned lunar flyby -Jun or Jul 67
- 7L&8L -Manned lunar flybys -Aug 67 (7L actually launched on April 23, 1968 as Zond 1968A, booster failure; 8L actually launched on July 21, 1968, booster explosion)
- 9L&10L -Manned lunar flybys -Sep 67 (10L planned to launch as Zond 9, cancelled)
- 11L&12L -Manned lunar flybys -Oct 67
- 13L -Reserve spacecraft (actually launched on January 20, 1969 as Zond 1969A, booster failure;)
[edit] Built spacecraft
Fifteen Soyuz 7K-L1 were built.
- s/n 1 - prototype not equipped with heat shield, intended to perfect orbital operation of the spacecraft without recovery of the capsule.
- s/n 2 - prototype not equipped with heat shield, intended to perfect orbital operation of the spacecraft without recovery of the capsule.
- s/n 3 -
- s/n 4 - launched on September 27, 1967, booster failure
- s/n 5 - launched on November 22, 1967, booster failure
- s/n 6 -
- s/n 7 - launched on April 23, 1968 as Zond 1968A, destroyed
- s/n 8 - launched on July 21, 1968, destroyed
- s/n 9 -
- s/n 10 - planned to launch as Zond 9, cancelled
- s/n 11 - launched as Zond 7
- s/n 12 - launched on November 10, 1968 as Zond 6, returned to Earth on November 17, 1968
- s/n 13 - launched on January 20, 1969 as Zond 1969A, failure, capsule recovered.
- s/n 14 - launched on October 20, 1970 as Zond 8, returned to Earth on October 27, 1970
- s/n 15 - planned to launch as Zond 10, cancelled
[edit] Test missions
- Cosmos 146
- Launched March 10, 1967
- Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P launched by Proton into planned highly elliptical earth orbit.
- (Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 4L)
- Launched September 27, 1967
- First stage -1 RD-253 failed, resulting at T+67 sec in deviation from flight path.
- (Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 5L)
- Launched November 22, 1967
- Second stage - 1 x RD-0210 failure, shutoff of stage 4 seconds after ignition. Launcher crashed downrange.
- Zond 4
- Launched March 2, 1968
- Study of remote regions of circumterrestrial space, development of new on-board systems and units of space stations.
- Returned to Earth March 7, 1968 - Self destruct system automatically blew up the capsule at 10 to 15 km altitude, 180-200 km off the African coast at Guinea.
- Zond 1968A (Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 7L)
- Launched April 23, 1968
- Second stage failed 260 seconds after launch.
- Attempted Lunar flyby
- (Zond 7K-L1 s/n 8L)
- Launched July 21, 1968
- Block D stage exploded on pad, killing three people.
- Zond 5
- Zond 6 (Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 12)
- Zond 1969A (Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 13L)
- Launched January 20, 1969
- Stage two shutdown 25 seconds early. Automatic flight abort. Capsule was safely recovered.
- Attempted Lunar flyby
- Zond L1S-1
- Launched February 21, 1969
- First stage failure. Capsule escape system fired 70 seconds after launch. Capsule was recovered.
- Attempted Lunar orbiter and N1 rocket test
- Zond L1S-2
- Launched July 3, 1969
- First stage failure. Zond capsule was recovered.
- Attempted Lunar orbiter and N1 rocket test
- Zond 7
- Zond 8 (Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 14)
- Zond 9 (Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 10L)
- Zond 10 ((Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 15L)
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Manned lunar spacecraft |
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