View source for TMK

{{Short description|Soviet space exploration project}}
{{other uses}}[[Image:Tmk-mavr.jpg|thumb|375px|Artist's depiction of TMK-MAVR on a [[Venus]] flyby]]
'''TMK''' ({{langx|ru|Тяжелый Межпланетный Корабль|Tyazhelyy Mezhplanetnyy Korabl'|Heavy Interplanetary Vessel}}) was the designation of a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] space exploration project to send a crewed flight to [[Mars]] and [[Venus]] (TMK-MAVR design) without landing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TMK |url=http://www.astronautix.com/t/tmk.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Russia's plans for manned Mars missions |url=https://www.russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft_manned_mars.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.russianspaceweb.com}}</ref> 

The TMK-1 [[spacecraft]] was due to be launched in 1971 and make a three-year-long flight including a Mars flyby, at which time probes would have been dropped. Expanded project variations, such as the TMK-E, Mavr or KK, including a Venus flyby, electric propulsion or a crewed Mars landing were also proposed.

The TMK project was planned as a response to the [[United States]]' crewed [[Moon]] landings. An earlier ''[[Martian Piloted Complex]]'' mission was proposed in 1956. The project was never completed because the required [[N1 rocket]] never flew successfully.

==TMK-1==
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = TMK-1
<!--Basic details-->
| mission_type          = crewed interplanetary
| mission_duration      = 1095 days 
<!--Spacecraft properties-->
| spacecraft_type       = [[RP-1]]/[[LOX]]
| dimensions            = {{unbulleted list|Length: {{convert|39|ft|m}}|Diameter: {{convert|19.60|ft|m}}|Volume: {{convert|4555.6|ft3|m3}}}}
<!--Crew details-->
| crew_size             = 3
| crew_members          = Soviet cosmonauts
<!--Launch details-->
| launch_date           = {{start date|1971|06|08}} (planned)
| launch_rocket         = [[N1 (rocket)|N1]] 
<!--end of mission-->
| landing_date          = {{end date|1974|07|10}} (planned)
|interplanetary         = <!--Infobox spaceflight/IP can be called multiple times for missions with multiple targets or combined orbiter/lander missions, etc-->
 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = flyby
   |object              = Mars
   |arrival_date        = April 1972 (planned)
   |distance            = <!--closest approach distance for flybys, distance travelled on surface for rovers, omit for others-->
 }}
}}
The first flight to Mars of the TMK-1 was planned to begin on June 8, 1971.

The 75 metric ton TMK-1 spacecraft would take a crew of three on a Mars flyby mission.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=TMK-1 |url=http://www.astronautix.com/t/tmk-1.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref> After a 10½ month flight the crew would race past Mars, dropping remote-controlled landers, and then be flung into an Earth-return trajectory. Earth return would happen on July 10, 1974, after a voyage of three years, one month, and two days.

Spacecraft configuration:
*A ''habitation'' or ''pilot compartment'', with an internal volume of 25 cubic meters
*A ''work'' or ''equipment section'', including the hatch for extra-vehicular activities and a solar storm shelter should solar flares increase radiation to dangerous levels. Total volume of the section would be 25 cubic meters
*A ''biological systems compartment'', with the SOZh closed-cycle environmental control system, with a total volume of 75 cubic meters
*An ''aggregate section'', with the Mars probe capsules, the KDU midcourse correction engine, the SOZh solar concentrator and solar panels, and radio antennas
* The ''SA'' crew Earth reentry capsule, about 4 m in diameter.
{{-}}

==TMK-E==
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = TMK-E
<!--Basic details-->
| mission_type          = crewed interplanetary
| mission_duration      = 1096 days 
<!--Spacecraft properties-->
| spacecraft_type       = [[Nuclear electric rocket]] (Xenon) Thrust: {{convert|74|N|lbf}}
| dimensions            = {{unbulleted list|Length: {{convert|574|ft|m}}|Diameter: {{convert|19.60|ft|m}}}}
<!--Crew details-->
| crew_size             = 6
| crew_members          = Soviet cosmonauts
<!--Launch details-->
| launch_rocket         = [[N1 (rocket)|N1]] 
<!--end of mission-->
|interplanetary         = <!--Infobox spaceflight/IP can be called multiple times for missions with multiple targets or combined orbiter/lander missions, etc-->
 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = Lander
   |object              = Mars
   |arrival_date        = 
   |distance            = <!--closest approach distance for flybys, distance travelled on surface for rovers, omit for others-->
 }}
}}
This variation was proposed in 1960, and consisted of a complete Mars landing expedition to be assembled in Earth orbit using several [[N1 rocket|N1]] launches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TMK-E |url=http://www.astronautix.com/t/tmk-e.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref> The spacecraft would be powered by nuclear electric engines and five landers would deliver a nuclear-powered ''Mars Train'' on the surface for a one-year mission.

The TMK-E would be capable of a three-year flight to Mars and return, of which one year was powered flight. 
It would measure 175 m  in length and house a crew of six. Six landing craft were included, two for the crew and four for the ''Mars Train'' vehicles.
{{-}}

==Mavr (MArs - VeneRa)==
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = MAVR
<!--Basic details-->
| mission_type          = crewed interplanetary
| mission_duration      = 680 days 
<!--Spacecraft properties-->
| spacecraft_type       = [[RP-1]]/[[LOX]]
| dimensions            = {{unbulleted list|Length: {{convert|82|ft|m}}|Diameter: {{convert|19.60|ft|m}}|Volume: {{convert|45.0|m3|ft3}}}}
<!--Crew details-->
| crew_size             = 3
| crew_members          = Soviet cosmonauts
<!--Launch details-->
| launch_rocket         = [[N1 (rocket)|N1]] 
<!--end of mission-->
|interplanetary         = <!--Infobox spaceflight/IP can be called multiple times for missions with multiple targets or combined orbiter/lander missions, etc-->
 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = Flyby
   |object              = Mars
   |arrival_date        = 
   |distance            = <!--closest approach distance for flybys, distance travelled on surface for rovers, omit for others-->
 }}
 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = Flyby
   |object              = Venus
   |arrival_date        = 
   |distance            = <!--closest approach distance for flybys, distance travelled on surface for rovers, omit for others-->
 }}
}}
A variation of the TMK mission planning  involved a flyby of Venus on the return voyage, and was given the code name "Mavr" (''MArs - VeneRa''), meaning Mars - Venus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mavr |url=http://www.astronautix.com/m/mavr.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
{{-}}

==KK - Space Complex for Delivering a Piloted Expedition to Mars==
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" align="right" width="310" style="margin:  0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
!colspan="3" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="orange"|'''KK''' - Space Complex for Delivering a Piloted Expedition to Mars
|-
!colspan="3" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="orange"|Description
|-
|width="75" colspan="1" |'''Role:'''||width="200" colspan="2"| Mars Expedition
|-
|width="75" colspan="1" |'''Crew: '''||width="250" colspan="2"| three 
|-
!colspan="3" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="orange"|Rocket engines
|-
|'''Main Engine''' (Xenon) :|| 14 lbf ea || 61 N 
|-
!colspan="3" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="orange"|Performance
|-
|''' Endurance:'''|| 630 days  || 30 days Mars stay
|-
|}
In 1966, a final version of the TMK studies was known as ''KK - Space Complex for Delivering a Piloted Expedition to Mars''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KK |url=http://www.astronautix.com/k/kk.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref> Nuclear electric propulsion was to be used for the 630-day mission. The craft structure consisted of:

* ''EK - Expeditionary spacecraft'': command center for piloting in interplanetary space
* ''OK - Orbital Complex'':  living and work compartments and the life support systems
* ''SA - The Landing Module'', ''AV - The Ascent Module'' and ''RV - The Ascent Rocket stage''
* ''PS - The Planetary Station'': used by the expedition on the Martian surface for life support and scientific research

The launch was planned for 1980, with a crew of three cosmonauts. Mars stay duration would be 30 days.

Mission data:

* Total Payload Required in Low Earth Orbit-metric tons: 150
* Total Propellant Required-metric tons: 24
* Number of Launches Required to Assemble Payload in Low Earth Orbit: 2
* Launch Vehicle: [[N1 rocket|N1]]

==See also==
*[[Human mission to Mars]]
*[[Manned Venus flyby]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}{{Human missions to Mars}}
{{Russian human spaceflight programs}}
{{Nuclear propulsion}}


[[Category:Cancelled Soviet spacecraft]]
[[Category:Soviet Mars missions]]
[[Category:Soviet Venus missions]]
[[Category:Human missions to Venus]]
[[Category:Human missions to Mars]]