Soyuz-L

Soyuz-L (11A511L)
FunctionMedium-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerOKB-1
Country of originSoviet Union
Size
Height50 m (160 ft)
Diameter10.3 m (34 ft)
Mass300,000 kg (660,000 lb)
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass5,500 kg (12,100 lb)
Associated rockets
FamilyR-7
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesBaikonur, Site 31/6
Total launches3[1]
Success(es)3
First flight24 November 1970
Last flight12 August 1971
Carries passengers or cargoLK
Boosters (First stage) – Block B, V, G & D[a]
No. boosters4
Powered by1 × RD-107-8D728
Maximum thrust995 kN (224,000 lbf)
Total thrust3,980 kN (890,000 lbf)
Specific impulse314 s (3.08 km/s)
Burn time119 seconds
PropellantLOX / RP-1
Second stage (core) – Block A
Powered by1 × RD-108-8D727
Maximum thrust977 kN (220,000 lbf)
Specific impulse315 s (3.09 km/s)
Burn time291 seconds
PropellantLOX / RP-1
Third stage
Powered by1 × RD-0110
Maximum thrust294 kN (66,000 lbf)
Specific impulse330 s (3.2 km/s)
Burn time246 seconds
PropellantLOX / RP-1

The Soyuz-L (Russian: Союз, lit.'union', GRAU index: 11A511L) was a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed by OKB-1 and manufactured by State Aviation Plant No. 1 in Samara, Russia. It was created to test the LK lunar lander in low Earth orbit, as part of the Soviet lunar programme.

The Soyuz-L was a derivative of the original Soyuz rocket featuring the reinforced first stage and boosters supporting the Molniya-M's third stage, so that it could carry a more massive payload. A larger payload fairing was also fitted, to accommodate the LK spacecraft.[2] The Soyuz-L was only launched three times between 1970 and 1971, all successful.[1] The later Soyuz-U used a similar configuration to the Soyuz-L.

Notes

  1. ^ This is a transliteration of the second through fifth letters of the Cyrillic alphabet (Б, В, Г, Д). A sense-for-sense translation would correspond to the second through fifth letters of the Latin alphabet, 'Block B, C, D & E'.

References

  1. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Soyuz-L (11A511L)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  2. ^ Wade, Mark. "Soyuz". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2009-04-16.