Lunar Expeditionary Complex
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The LEK Lunar Expeditionary Complex was a lunar expedition and Moon base proposed by Valentin Glushko in 1974 as a Soviet response to the United States' Apollo program and as a successor to the Zvezda moonbase, which was based on the cancelled N1-L3 crewed Moon expedition program. If implemented, it was intended to have been operational by 1980 and used for scientific and engineering research.
Hardware
The Vulkan-LEK project was based on new superheavy launcher developed in Glushko's bureau.
The moonbase design consisted of a number of modules, including:
- Lunokhod, an 8-ton pressurized lunar rover to be used to build the base and for expeditions.[1]
- The LZM ("Laboratory-Factory Module"), a 15.5-ton pressurized module to be used for oxygen production and scientific experiments.
- The LZhM ("Laboratory-Habitation Module"), 21.5-ton habitation module where cosmonauts were to reside.
- A nuclear power station to provide electricity.
- A simple transport vehicle to ferry supplies to and from a lunar orbit.
Project termination
The project was cancelled in 1976 when a Russian Academy of Sciences Commission ruled that resources should be targeted toward projects primarily adding economic value rather than for national prestige.
See also
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links
- the LEK Lunar Expeditionary Complex at astronautix.com.
- Entry at russianspaceweb.com.
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