Soyuz 7K-L1 No.4L
 A Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft |
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| Major contractors | OKB-1 |
|---|---|
| Bus | Soyuz 7K-L1 |
| Mission type | Lunar flyby Spacecraft test |
| Launch date | 27 September 1967 22:11:54 UTC |
| Carrier rocket | Proton-K/D 8K82K s/n 229-01 |
| Launch site | Baikonur Site 81/23 |
| Mass | 5,390 kilograms (11,900 lb) |
Soyuz 7K-L1 No.4L, sometimes identified by NASA as Zond 1967A,[1] was a Soviet spacecraft which was launched in 1967 as part of the Zond programme. It was a 5,390-kilogram (11,900 lb) Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft, the first of nine to be launched.[2][3] It was intended to perform a circumlunar flyby of the Moon before returning to the Earth for landing, however it failed to achieve orbit.
Soyuz 7K-L1 No.4L was launched at 22:11:54 UTC on 27 September 1967 atop a Proton-K 8K78K carrier rocket with a Blok D upper stage, flying from Site 81/23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[4] During first stage flight one of the rocket's six engines failed, which caused the rocket to deviate from its planned trajectory sixty seven seconds into the flight. The spacecraft separated from the rocket by means of the SAS launch escape system, and came down between 50 and 60 kilometres (31 and 37 mi) downrange. It was collected by a Mil Mi-6 helicopter and returned to Baikonur.[5] Prior to the release of information about its mission, NASA correctly identified that it had been a test of a spacecraft intended for manned Lunar flights, however they were unsure whether it was intended to reach the Moon itself.[1]
References [edit]
- ^ a b Williams, David R. (6 January 2005). "Tentatively Identified Missions and Launch Failures". NASA NSSDC. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Soyuz 7K-L1". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zond (L1)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Proton". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
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