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SOVIET LUNAR
PROGRAMS
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The
Soviets had several different programs to explore the Moon:
| Luna |
A variety of automated
orbiters, landers, and soil sample return capsules, 1959-1976 |
| L-1/Zond |
Automated
circumlunar missions, trial runs for a manned "loop-around-the
Moon" flight, 1965-1970 |
| Soyuz and Kosmos |
Human and automated
missions in Earth orbit to test lunar spacecraft and maneuvers,
1966-1969 |
| Lunokhod |
Automated lunar
rovers, 1970-1973 |
| L3 |
A
never-executed "Man-on-the-Moon" landing, originally
scheduled for late 1968 |
Only
20 of about 60 Soviet launches of all types of lunar probes from
1959 through 1976 were successful.
Courtesy
of RSC Energia
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ZOND:
TRIAL RUNS TO THE MOON
 Korolëv's
design bureau began work in 1965 on a manned spacecraft (called
L-1) intended to carry two cosmonauts on a single loop around the
Moon. Because of repeated equipment failures, the L-1 never flew
with a crew. However, unmanned L-1 spacecraft flew to the Moon five
times under the name Zond ("Probe") from 1968 through
1970 to test the spacecraft and maneuvers necessary for a manned
lunar mission. In September 1968, Zond 5 became the first spacecraft
to loop around the Moon and return to Earth.
Courtesy
of RSC Energia
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LUNOKHOD:
ROBOTIC EXPLORERS ON THE MOON
Two
Luna missions in 1970 and 1973 included a robotic rover, Lunokhod,
that roamed around the landing site. Lunokhods were equipped to
take photographs and to analyze rock and soil samples--the same
kinds of tasks performed by astronauts on the Moon. Although these
Soviet robotic explorers were successful, they were overshadowed
by the American manned explorations. Courtesy
of RSC Energia
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 From
1961 through 1968, the U.S. Ranger, Surveyor, and Lunar Orbiter spacecraft
also explored the Moon. See the exhibits with the Apollo lunar module nearby,
where the lunar landing is depicted. |
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