Luna E-6 #2

USSR

International Sat. n°:

USSR satellite n°:

Launch data:

Designation  00522 / 63001B
Launch date  04 Jan 1963 - 08:49 UT
Launch site B, LC1
Launch vehicle  Molniya-L(8K78L)
Satellite type E-6 #2
Mission  Lunar soft lander
Decay 

Partial failure

Spacecraft data:

Manufacturer OKB-1
Customer  
Platform  Sputnik 25
Mass at launch  1422 kg
Dry Mass  kg
Basic shape  
Dimension  
Solar array  
Stabilization  
Propulsion KTDU-5A (S5.5)

Description:

E-6 probes were designed by Korolev's OKB-1 with the objective of making the first soft landing on the moon and beaming back pictures of the surface. The spacecraft itself was ejected from the main bus just above the surface; it was surrounded by an air bag to absorb the impact. The petals of the outer carapace of the capsule opened like a flower, pushing the photo platform above the surface. The automatic lunar station that achieved the soft landing weighed 99 Kg. It was a hermetically sealed container with radio equipment, a program timing device, heat control systems, scientific apparatus, power sources, and a television system. After landing the four petals, opened outward and stabilized the spacecraft on the lunar surface. Spring-controlled antennas assumed operating positions, and the television camera rotatable mirror system, which operated by revolving and tilting, began a photographic survey of the lunar environment.

Mission:

The escape stage's BOZ unit failed to operate due to failure of a DC transformer of the power system. The stage with payload remained in Earth orbit.
Ref.: #7, #8 - update: 4.07.05 Home