Soyuz-A

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]

Soyuz-A
Soyuz 7K-9K-11K circumlunar concept. The drawing shows Soyuz 7K (right), Soyuz 9K booster, and Soyuz 11K tanker with twin whip antennas (left)
ManufacturerOKB-1
Country of originSoviet Union
ApplicationsCarry up to three cosmonauts to lunar orbit.
Specifications
RegimeLow Earth
Medium Earth
Circumlunar
Production
StatusCancelled
LaunchedNone
Related spacecraft
DerivativesSoyuz 7K-OK (first Soyuz generation to fly crewed)

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 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. 2001-10-31. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  2. Pike, John. "L-1 Lunar Circumnavigation Mission". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
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