Soyuz-A

Last updated
Soyuz-A
Soyuz-A-B-C circumlunar complex drawing.png
Soyuz 7K-9K-11K circumlunar concept. The drawing shows Soyuz 7K (right), Soyuz 9K booster, and Soyuz 11K tanker with twin whip antennas (left)
Manufacturer OKB-1
Country of originSoviet Union
ApplicationsCarry up to three cosmonauts to lunar orbit.
Specifications
Regime Low Earth
Medium Earth
Circumlunar
Production
StatusCancelled
LaunchedNone
Related spacecraft
Derivatives Soyuz 7K-OK (first Soyuz generation to fly crewed)

Sergei Korolev initially promoted the Soyuz A-B-V circumlunar complex (7K-9K-11K) concept (also known as L1) in which a two-man craft Soyuz 7K would rendezvous with other components (9K and 11K) in Earth orbit to assemble a lunar excursion vehicle, the components being delivered by the proven R-7 rocket. [1] [2]

Contents

Besides the Soyuz 7K spacecraft, the complex would feature a Soyuz 9K booster and a Soyuz 11K tanker with twin whip antennas.

The 7K would have been equipped with cameras and sensors to study the lunar surface during the flyby, at a distance of 1,000 to 20,000 km from the Moon's surface. Total flight time would have been 7 to 8 days.

Relation with other Soyuz versions

Soyuz 7K manned spacecraft concept (1963) Soyuz-A drawing.png
Soyuz 7K manned spacecraft concept (1963)

Soyuz A is the base concept for the entire Soyuz spacecraft family. The 7K series is a direct descendant of this original proposal. The list below shows proposed, flown (in bold) and military (in italic) Soyuz versions.


See also

References

  1. "Soyuz A". astronautix.com. Mark Wade.
  2. Pike, John. "L-1 Lunar Circumnavigation Mission". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-06-30.