Names Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n 11 COSPAR ID 1969-067A Launch mass 5,979 kg Launch site Baikonur Cosmodrome | Operator OKB-1 SATCAT no. 04062 Launch date 7 August 1969 Bus Soyuz 7K-L1 | |
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Mission type Lunar flyby
Spacecraft test Disposal Soft landing and recovery Manufacturer S. P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia Similar Zond 8, Zond 5, Soyuz 7K‑L1 No4L, Surveyor 6, Lunar Orbiter 5 | ||
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.