Question about the Soyuz 7K-LOK and TEI

[tohaki]

I learned in another thread that the Block-D stage would have been used by the LK during the landing and discarded. So, how would the Soyuz 7K-LOK have gotten out of lunar orbit?

 

[tohaki]

You are probably thinking of the Soyuz 7K-L1. The Soyuz 7K-LOK was meant to enter lunar orbit (as the LO in the name indicates).

 

[nacnud]

From astronautix:<br /><br /><font color="yellow">Following three years of design and research, a series of potential lunar spacecraft designs were described in a 23 September 1963 letter setting out Korolev's space exploration plan for 1965 to 1975. One of these, the L-4 Manned Lunar Orbiter Research Spacecraft would have taken two to three cosmonauts into lunar orbit for an extended survey and mapping mission. The L-4 complex, with a total mass of 75 tonnes, would be placed into orbit in a single N1 launch, and would consist of:<br /><br /> * The trans-lunar injection stage, total mass 58 tonnes. If development of a fourth stage for the N1 was not authorised, this could be replaced by three sequentially-fired Soyuz B 9KM rocket blocks developed for the L-1 and L-2 projects.<br /> * The lunar orbit manoeuvring stage, which would have a total mass of 11.5 tonnes. This would break the Soyuz manned spacecraft into lunar orbit and returned it on its transearth trajectory. Five tonnes of propellant would be used for lunar orbit insertion.<br /> * The L-4 spacecraft, which would be a modification of the 7K Soyuz. This would have a mass of 5.5 tonnes after being placed on a transearth trajectory with a descent capsule mass of 2.5 tonnes. <br /><br /><font color="white">So the Block I engine would do the TEI burn.</font></font>

 

[tohaki]

I thought the lunar orbit and landing programme was called L-3, not L-4... ? Anyway, where is this Block-I stage attached? From what I remember the LK and Block-D stage was attached to the back of the Soyuz 7K-LOK in that order. Is there a stage between the Soyuz 7K-LOK and the LK that I haven't noticed?

 

[gofer]

Here's my favorite LOK page: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/lok.html The LOK would have had enough (hydrazine) fuel to do a break from the lunar orbit to the landing in Kazahstan. If only the N1 had worked...

 

[nacnud]

I'm trying to figure it out at the mo, I'm sure the TEI was by the block I engine I even have found a picture of the engine. I'm 90% sure its under the decent module of the LOK.

 

[tohaki]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Here's my favorite LOK page: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/lok.html The LOK would have had enough (hydrazine) fuel to do a break from the lunar orbit to the landing in Kazahstan. If only the N1 had worked...<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>Thanks for the link!<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>I'm trying to figure it out at the mo, I'm sure the TEI was by the block I engine I even have found a picture of the engine. I'm 90% sure its under the decent module of the LOK.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>You mean the Block-I engine was part of the service module?<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>nacnud; thanks for doing the research...<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>Yes, indeed.. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[nacnud]

OK here is what I think the 7K-LOK would have looked like as it entered LEO. <br /><br />Edit: Oops I've got the LK upside down, and L1 should read N1! Nevermind...

 

[nacnud]

Russian Space Web give the flight proflie from there as:<br /><br /><font color="yellow"><b>L3 flight profile</b><br /><br />The N1-L3 system was expected to deliver a manned spacecraft on the surface of the Moon during a 11-12-day expedition, which included the following steps:<br /><br /> <li> The N1 rocket delivers the L3 system into the low-Earth orbit, where it can remain up to one day;<br /> <li> Block G accelerates the L3 system to Earth-escape velocity, sending the L3 system toward the Moon;<br /> <li> Block G separates;<br /> <li> Block D completes the acceleration and conducts two trajectory corrections during a 3.5-day flight between the Earth and the Moon;<br /> <li> Block D provides a breaking maneuver, inserting the L3 system into lunar orbit, where it can remain up to four days;<br /> <li> A Block D engine firing trasfers the L3 system from a circular to an elliptical orbit around the Moon;<br /> <li> One cosmonaut transfers from the LOK spacecraft to the LK lander, during an EVA;<br /> <li> A combination of Block D and the LK spacecraft separates from the LOK spacecraft;<br /> <li> A Block D engine firing transfers the LK lander on a descent trajectory toward the lunar surface;<br /> <li> Block D separates from the LK lander<br /> <li> Block E engine firings onboard the LK lander provides for a soft-landing on the Moon surface;<br /> <li> A cosmonaut conducts an EVA, during a stay on the lunar surface lasting from 6 to 24 hours;<br /> <li> A Block E engine firing provides for the liftoff of the LK ascent stage from the lunar surface and reaching lunar orbit;<br /> <li> The LOK spacecraft docks with the LK lander;<br /> <li> The cosmonaut transfers from the LK lander to the LOK spacecraft during a spacewalk;<br /> <li> Block I onboard the LOK spacecraft provides escape velocity, sending the LOK toward Earth;<br /> <li> Block I onboard the LOK spacecraft provides trajectory corrections during a 3.5-day flight toward the Earth</li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></font>

 

[nacnud]

Astronutix has this gif showing how the LK would land.

 

[tohaki]

So, the Block-I is the Soyuz 7K-LOK service module? ...or am I reading that drawing wrong? Also, I think you need to rotate the LK 180 degrees.

 

[nacnud]

Yep, just spotted that <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />Yep I think the Block I replaced the normal service module.

 

[gofer]

Yes, the Block I (stands for the letter 'i', not the numerical one) is the service module of the LOK: (the one picture in the middle, the round tank to the right) (have fun with babelfish <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> it's a most interesting page: http://www.cosmoworld.ru/spaceencyclopedia/publications/index.shtml?tg_moon.html )

 

[tohaki]

Thanks for clearing that up (both of you). So, like Apollo, it would leave lunar orbit under its own power. I now think I have a semi-decent understanding of the Soviet manned lunar programme(s).

 

[gofer]

Yes. That is my understanding. One person to the Lunar surface in the LK from the LOK, then back to the LOK, and back to Earth. At the core, the configuration was driven by the N1's upmass capability.

 

[tohaki]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>One person to the Lunar surface in the LK from the LOK, then back to the LOK, and back to Earth.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>And the LK would be left behind in lunar orbit, right?<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>At the core, the configuration was driven by the N1's upmass capability.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>I'm glad the US won the race to the moon. For a time there with the trouble in Vietnam and civil unrest both at the universities and in the south I'm sure the Soviets thought they were winning the Cold War. I can't help feeling it is a shame that the N1 never got to fly a successful mission though.<br /><br />By the way, your links a couple of posts up are a bit of a mess... <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[gofer]

Yes, the LK would be discarded after the lunar cosmonaut getting to the LOK.<br /><br />Sorry for the mess up there. Here's the direct link to the schematics of the vehicles... http://www.cosmoworld.ru/spaceencyclopedia/publications/g8.jpg the LK (with the Block E) as launched was in the tail of the LOK (the N1 drawing) The top is the N1 with the mission spacecraft packed in, the middle is the LOK transfer/return stage, the bottom is the LK the Lunar lander.

 

[tohaki]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Yes, the LK would be discarded after the lunar cosmonaut getting to the LOK.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>Thanks for clearing that up. Did Apollo bring its ascent module back home or was that just Apollo 13?<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Sorry for the mess up there. Here's the direct link to the schematics of the vehicles...<br />http://www.cosmoworld.ru/spaceencyclopedia/publications/g8.jpg <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>I got it to work the first time. The bad links just messed up the page layout on my screen. It is a very informative picture. Thanks for posting it.<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>...the LK (with the Block E)...<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>Block-E being the LK descent/landing stage?

 

[nacnud]

Block E is the landing and accent stage. Block D also did a lot of the breaking from low Luna orbit to near the surface, see the diagram above.<br /><br />Because the same engine was used for landing and accent there it was carefully designed to prevent debris from rocket exhaust hitting the moon and kicking up rocks, something Apollo avoided by having two different stages for accent and decent.<br />

 

[tohaki]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Block E is the landing and accent stage.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>Ah, I hadn't noticed that detail. I had assumed that they did it the same as the Americans.<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Block D also did a lot of the breaking from low Luna orbit to near the surface, see the diagram above.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>That part I had understood... <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />What parts of the mission was the Block-D used for? ...only LOI and descent or also partly in TLI?

 

[nacnud]

Last bit of TLI, all of LOI, most of decent. It had a busy life <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />