- Zvezda (moonbase)
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For other uses, see Zvezda (disambiguation).
Zvezda Moon Built Planned to begin after 1970 (then after 1980) In use Project canceled Controlled by Soviet Union Garrison 9-12 Zvezda moonbase (Russian: звезда, "star"), also DLB Lunar Base — plan and project of 1962—1974 of Soviet manned moonbase as successor N1-L3 manned lunar expedition program. It was the first detailed such project more developed than early US Horizon and Lunex projects and later Apollo Lunar Base Wernher von Braun and NASA proposal. Zvezda moonbase was cancelled as part of the cancellation of Soviet manned lunar programs.
Contents
Implementation
According to the project, main habitation module of base will be delivered on Moon at first. Then a few automatic spacecraft, including lunokhod rover, would be launched to the place of module to recognize the moon soil and external surface of module. Then the moonbase would be ready to accept its first manned expedition and further modules. For the safety of the crew the habitation modules might have been covered with soil. In prospective for an exploration of other places and change dislocation, a habitation modules may be installed on wheel chassies, multiple docked and form a movable train. Eenergy for static base or train would be provided by atomic batteries and nuclear reactor.
Developing of project of moonbase was ordered by Soviet space chief Korolyov to Barmin's Spetcmash bureau. Project was named DLB Lunar Base in technical specifications and Zvezda in government. Unofficially project had name Barmingrad (Barmin's city) amongst a designers.
Under project were studied a several themes:
- aims of base;
- conception of building;
- stages of realization;
- construction and scientific equipment;
- possible military supplies.
Parameters
The main unit of the base was the habitation module.[1] The plan was for the base to consist of 9 such modules, each delivered separately. The modules had control, laboratory, life, medical, dining, store and other specific aims. Each module was to be 8.6 meters in full length and 3.3 meters in diameter, with 18 tons in full weight. The modules were to be 4.5 meters in initial length, and grow to full size by an expanded mechanism and air compression after delivery.
The train had a 8 ton mass and would be operated by 4 cosmonauts and consist of tug, life, energy and drilling modules. Chassis of each module had 8 wheels with separate drive each as realised on Lunokhods.
Modules of base and train had a meteor, heat and ultraviolet protection by 3 layers. Between external and internal metal layers was the special styrofoam. The Train had a manipulator arm which would have enabled the collection of samples of soil without the use of Space suits.
Water could be generated from moon soil by chemical reaction. Lavochkin bureau was developed but not tested on Moon this unit in a smaller size.
The base would have had a crew of 9 to 12.
Realisation
Zvezda project was not a separate program but further part of N1-L3 expedition program for the 1970s. Delivery of cosmonauts at first time intended by LK moon landing module of L3 spacecraft.
The common project was fulfilled to 1971. Barmin had meet with defence minister Ustinov who was responsible for Soviet space programs. After more than 6 hours of talking Ustinov agreed to support the project.
Under project the detailed drawings and mockups of modules were developed.
The realization of project depended from key part of N1-L3 program - N-1 superheavy launcher, all 4 starts of that in 1969-1972 were failure. Before the cancellation of all Soviet manned moon program the new project N1F-L3M was proposed for an expeditions since 1979 with more durations than Apollo that may continue by successor creation of Zvezda moonbase in 1980s. Also, then the new LEK Lunar Expeditionary Complex as transportation to Moon and moonbase was proposed.
New Soviet space chief Glushko closed the N1-L3 program in 1974 but proposed the new Vulkan-LEK project for expeditions to Moon based on new superheavy launcher developed in his bureau, but this project was not realized either.
According to counts of project from developers, a moon expeditions and construction of moonbase needed nearly 50 billion roubles (80 billion US dollars). The national economy was overloaded by defence expenses and could not carry out a such program.
All Soviet manned lunar programs, including Zvezda moonbase, were under top secret and published in glasnost epoch since 1990. Before this time Soviet Union officially denied of existence of these programs and assured in the way of near-Earth manned orbital stations and Moon exploration by automatic spacecraft only.
See also
- Moon "Barmingrad". Video. TV Roskosmos
- LEK Lunar Expeditionary Complex
- Energia Lunar Expedition
- Project Horizon
- Lunex Project
- Colonization of the Moon
- Project A119
References
Moon colonization American Project Horizon (after 1966) · Lunex Project (after 1968) · Apollo Lunar Base (c. 1980) · JSC Moon Base (after 2005) · Lunox · Lunar Outpost (after 2020)
Soviet/Russian Zvezda moonbase · KLE Complex Lunar Expedition · L3M · LEK Lunar Expeditionary Complex (after 1980) · Energia Lunar ExpeditionOthers Man Will Conquer Space Soon! (1950s) · Artemis Project (after 2002) · Human Lunar Return · Chinese Lunar Base (after 2024) · JAXA Moon Base (c. 2020–2030)Proposed sites Soviet and Russian government manned space programs Active Past Cancelled Categories:- Exploration of the Moon
- Soviet space program
- Soviet lunar program
- Human spaceflight programmes
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