LK (spacecraft) - Lunniy Korabl Compared To Lunar Module

Lunniy Korabl Compared To Lunar Module

Because the translunar payload capacity of the N1 rocket was only 70% that of the American Saturn V, the LK was created to be more efficient and less bulky than the Lunar Module (LM):

• It had a different landing profile
• It was lighter at only 1/3 the weight of the LM
• Initially the LK was to have carried a single cosmonaut. A later variant would have a two-man crew; the LM carried two
• It had no docking tunnel like the LM's; the cosmonaut would space walk from the LOK (Soyuz 7K-L3) Command Ship to the LK and back.
• To leave lunar orbit and begin descent, the LK used the same braking stage, the Blok D, which put the LK-Soyuz stack into lunar orbit; the LM used its landing stage engine (though later Apollo missions also used the SPS engine to help deorbit the LM)
• The final deceleration, from a velocity of 100 m/s at an altitude of 4 km above the lunar surface, was done with a Block E stage, capable of multiple restarts. This allowed the same Block to also serve as the ascent stage to return the LK to lunar orbit; the LM's landing stage had a dedicated engine for landing
• For better performance, LK Block E engines used turbopumps to provide them with fuel components. However, solid charges were used for quick activation of the pumps that limited the number of ignitions.
• After landing the LK landing gear structure was designed to serve as a mini-launch complex for the upper stage's lift-off; the Apollo LM lifted off with a separate ascent engine.
• The LK Block E had both primary and reserve engines allowing for optimal reassurance of ascent; the Apollo LM lifted off with a single ascent engine, and had no backup or reserve. A failure of the LM ascent engine would guarantee a critical mission failure.