LK Soviet manned lunar lander

 


The Soviets planned to use the LK lunar lander to put a man on the Moon. These were the planned events:
 One cosmonaut remains in the Soyuz LOK in lunar orbit, while the other makes an EVA to get into the LK. The Block-D (N-1's fifth stage), used to brake the LOK-LK complex in lunar orbit, is then used as LK's descent stage. The Block-D is jettisoned seconds before the landing, and the LK uses its own engines to fly over the surface and make a soft landing. After a solo exploration (up to 48h.) using the Krechet spacesuit, the LK takes off, leaving the landing gear on the surface. Next, it docks with the LOK, and the cosmonaut makes another EVA, with the lunar samples, to the Soyuz orbital module, where his mate is waiting for him  wearing an Orlan spacesuit. Afterwards, they repressurize the orbital module and jettison the LK cabin. Then, the LOK uses its engines to abandon lunar orbit and fly back to Earth.

The LK spcecraft was based on the Soyuz orbital module, searching for simplicity. Although there were several test flights in low Earth orbit (under the LK-T2K configuration, without the landing gear), the final configuration never flew.

LK missions:

11/24/70: Cosmos 379

                               02/26/71: Cosmos 398

                               08/12/71: Cosmos 434

This lunar landing configuration was called L3. There were several other configurations proposed.


 
Photos:Michel Koivisto










This is the front side of the lander.
The rounded single observation window can be clearly seen. 
On the top is the maneuvering system.










 



LK rear side








LK cutaway.
From Peter Always' book.





LK cockpit: on the left environmental, cabin depressurization and radio controls. At the center is the large window for landing. Above, it is the smaller porthole for rendezvous and docking maneuvers. On the right, maneuver controls.







View of the LK behind the cosmonaut. Cooling loops and electrical cables are visible. The round piece of metal connects the LK cabin with an instrumental section mounted outside the LK.







LK engines. At the center is the main engine RD-858 nozzle. Besides, the two RD-859 back-up engine nozzles are visible.






LK data

Design Life: 3 days.
 Orbital Storage: 30.00 days.

                 Total Length: 5.5 m.
 Maximum Diameter: 4.5 m.

Total Habitable Volume: 5.00 m3.
 Total Mass: 5,560 kg.
 Total Propellants: 2,400 kg.
 Total RCS Impulse: 25,000.00 kgf-sec.
 Primary Engine Thrust: 2,050 kgf.
 Main Engine
                 Propellants: N2O4/UDMH.
 Main Engine Isp: 315 sec.
 Total spacecraft delta v: 2,300 m/s.
 Electric system: 0.50 total
                 average kW.
 Electric System: 30.00 total kWh.
 Electrical System: Batteries.
 

                               














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