Soyuz-A Explained

Manufacturer:OKB-1
Country:Soviet Union
Applications:Carry up to three cosmonauts to lunar orbit.
Orbits:Low Earth
Medium Earth
Circumlunar
Status:Cancelled
Launched:None
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]

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 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Soyuz A . Mark Wade . astronautix.com.
  2. Web site: L-1 Lunar Circumnavigation Mission. John. Pike. GlobalSecurity.org. 2009-06-30.