View source for Kosmos 434

{{Short description|Third and final uncrewed test flight of the Soviet lunar module}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = Kosmos 434
| image                 = Soviet lunar lander drawing.svg
| image_caption         = LK Lander

| mission_type          = Spacecraft test
| operator              = Soviet space program
| website               = 
| COSPAR_ID             = 1971-069A 
| SATCAT                = 5407
| mission_duration      = {{time interval|12 August 1971|23 August 1981}}

| spacecraft            = [[LK (spacecraft)|T2K]] No.3
| manufacturer          = [[OKB-1]]
| dry_mass              = 
| launch_mass           = {{convert|7000|kg|lb}}<ref name=NSSDC/>
| power                 = 

| launch_date           = {{start-date|12 August 1971, 09:30|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC<ref name=launchlog/>
| launch_rocket         = [[Soyuz-L]]  
| launch_site           = [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]] [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31/6]]
| launch_contractor     = 

| disposal_type         = 
| deactivated           = 
| last_contact          = 
| decay_date            = 23 August 1981

| orbit_epoch           = 11 September 1971<ref name=satcat/>
| orbit_reference       = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Medium Earth orbit|Medium Earth]]
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|187|km|mi}}
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|11777|km|mi}} 
| orbit_inclination     = 51.5&nbsp;degrees
| orbit_eccentricity    = 0.46911647
| orbit_semimajor       = {{convert|12353.00|km|mi}}
| orbit_period          = 227.94&nbsp;minutes
| apsis                 = gee

| programme             = '''[[LK (spacecraft)]]'''
| previous_mission      = [[Kosmos 398|T2K No.2]]
| next_mission          = 
| programme2            = '''[[List of Kosmos satellites (251–500)|Kosmos (satellites)]]'''
| previous_mission2     = [[Kosmos 433]]
| next_mission2         = [[Kosmos 435]]
}}

'''Kosmos 434''' ({{langx|ru|Космос 434}}; meaning ''Cosmos 434''), also known as '''T2K No.3''', was the final uncrewed test flight of the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[LK (spacecraft)|LK Lander]]. It performed the longest burn of the four uncrewed LK Lander tests, validating the backup rocket engine of the LK's ''[[Blok E]]'' propulsion system. It finished in a 186&nbsp;km by 11,804&nbsp;km orbit. This test qualified the lander as flightworthy.

The LK was the only element of the [[Soviet human lunar programs]] that reached this status. In 1980-81 there were fears that it might carry [[nuclear fuel]]. When it reentered over [[Australia]] on August 22, 1981 the [[Soviet Foreign Ministry]] in Australia admitted that Kosmos 434 was an "experiment unit of a lunar cabin," or lunar lander.

==See also==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[1971 in spaceflight]]

{{Clear}}
==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="NSSDC">
{{ cite web
| url= https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-069A
| title= Cosmos 434
| website= nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
| publisher= [[NASA]]
| access-date= 15 December 2013 }}
</ref>

<ref name="launchlog">
{{ cite web
| url= http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt
| title= Launch Log
| author1= Jonathan McDowell
| work= Jonathan's Space Page
| access-date= 15 December 2013 }}
</ref>

<ref name="satcat">
{{ cite web
| url= http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt
| title= Satellite Catalog
| author1= Jonathan McDowell
| work= Jonathan's Space Page
| access-date= 15 December 2013 }}
</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* Mir Hardware Heritage
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20090907191412/http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/RP1357.pdf Mir Hardware Heritage - NASA report (PDF format)]
** [[wikisource:Mir Hardware Heritage|Mir Hardware Heritage (wikisource)]]

{{N1-L3}}
{{Orbital launches in 1971}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kosmos 0434}}
[[Category:Kosmos satellites|Kosmos 0434]]
[[Category:Soviet lunar program]]
[[Category:1971 in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Australia–Soviet Union relations]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1971]]

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