Zond 7

Zond 7

Zond 7
Names Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 11
Mission type Spacecraft test
Operator Soviet Union
COSPAR ID 1969-067A
SATCAT № 4062
Spacecraft properties
Bus Soyuz 7K-L1
Manufacturer OKB-1
Launch mass 5,979 kilograms (13,181 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 23:48:06, August 7, 1969 (1969-08-07T23:48:06)
Rocket Proton-K with Block D upper stage
Launch site Baikonur Cosmodrome
End of mission
Disposal Soft landing and recovery
Recovered by Soviet Union
Landing date August 14, 1969 (1969-08-14)
Landing site south of Kustanai
Flyby of Moon
Closest approach August 11, 1969
Distance 1,984.6 km (1,233.2 mi)

Zond 7, a formal member of the Soviet Zond program and unmanned version of Soyuz 7K-L1 manned moon-flyby spacecraft, the only truly successful test of L1, was launched towards the Moon from a mother spacecraft (69-067B) on a mission of further studies of the Moon and circumlunar space, to obtain color photography of Earth and the Moon from varying distances, and to flight test the spacecraft systems. Earth photos were obtained on August 9, 1969. On August 11, 1969, the spacecraft flew past the Moon at a distance of 1984.6 km and conducted two picture taking sessions. Zond 7 reentered Earth's atmosphere on August 14, 1969, and achieved a soft landing in a preset region south of Kustanai, Kazakhstan.

Like other Zond circumlunar craft, Zond 7 used a relatively uncommon technique called skip reentry to shed velocity upon returning to Earth. Of all circumlunar Zond craft launches, Zond 7 would have been the first to make a safe flight for a crew had it been manned.

The return capsule is on display at Orevo, Russia.

Notes

Preceded by
Zond 6		 Zond program (circumlunar) Succeeded by
Zond 8
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