LK-1

LK-1
ManufacturerOKB-52
Country of originSoviet Union
OperatorSoviet space program
ApplicationsCarry cosmonauts around the Moon and back to Earth
Production
StatusCanceled
Related spacecraft
DerivativesLK-700, TKS spacecraft

LK-1 was a projected Soviet crewed lunar flyby spacecraft. It would be launched on a three-stage Proton launch vehicle. The project started in 1962 under the lead engineer Vladimir Chelomey,[1] with the first flight planned for 1967.

The LK-1 had its origin in several early 1960s spacecraft projects under the generic names of kosmoplans and raketoplans.[2]

In 1965 the project was cancelled in favour of the Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft.[2]

Further developments came as the LK-700 direct-descent lunar lander program.

Configuration

An drawing of a VA spacecraft: The VA capsule is on the lower right, while the braking engines are located on top of the long "nose section".[3][4] The launch escape system (not shown) would have been attached on top of the nose section.[5]

The spacecraft consisted of the following modules:

  • ADU Emergency Engine Unit
  • VA Capsule (crew module)
  • PAB Equipment-Rocket System Block (service module)
  • RB Translunar Injection Stage

Characteristics

  • Crew Size: 2
  • Spacecraft delta v: 3,300 m/s
  • Electric System: 2.00 average kW.
  • Gross mass: 17,000 kg
  • Un-fuelled mass: 4,000 kg
  • Height: 5.20 m
  • Span: 7.27 m

References

  1. ^ "The Soviet Manned Lunar Program".
  2. ^ a b "LK-1". Archived from the original on December 25, 2001.
  3. ^ "TKS transport ship 11F72". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  4. ^ "TKS-VA (11F74)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  5. ^ "TKS". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.