SPACE EVENT REPORT: LUNA-7 - 4 OCTOBER 1965

Created: 10/20/1966

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SPACE EVENT REPORT

S

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

DIRECTORATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

foreignpace analysis center

SPACE EVENT REPORT5

SUMMARY

oviet probe intended to soft land on the moon, was launched from the Tyuratam Missile Tost Ranee The vehicle

Atn orbit one, the vehicle was successfully Injectedunarid-course correction attemptedctober was alsohowever, the mission ended in failure. The probe impacted the moonZctober near Kepler Crater in the Ocean of Storms.

s the seventeenth failure ln the nineteen attempts identified with the lunar program. The only fully successful lunar probes werendoth direct ascent launchesf the ten lunar attempts using the parking-orbit technique none achieved any significant degree of success.

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data.

Soviet Press Announcements

Announcements by TASS as they appeared in various Issues of Pravda are as follows:

5 October: "In accordance with the program for investigation* of cosmic spacelanets of the solar system,5 in tho Sovietosmic rocket was launched toward the moon. On board the cosmic rocket is automaticg, which Is equipped with measuring equipment forscientific research. The launch was mode with the aidulti-staged rocket. The last stage of the rocket was initially placed in an intermediate orbitatellite of the earth andin accordance with the assigned program, injected thestationrajectory toward the moon. The telemetric measuring and scientific equipment was switched on automatically in accordance with the flight program and also on radio command from the earth. Observation of the flight of 'Luna-7', determination of its trajectory parameters, and receipt of scientific information on tho earth are being conductedpecial measuring complex.stations movingrajectory near the calculated, Atours Moscow time5 stationistance0 kilometers from the earthoint on the earth's surface with'2'E. All the equipment on board automatic stations functioning normally. The coordinatlng-measuring center Is processinginformation."

7 October: "Automatic station 'Luna-7', launchedctober,its flight toward the moon. On the morningcheduled radio session was held with the slation, at which time, in accordance with the flightorrection was made in the flight trajectory of the station. Tho station was oriented on the sun and moon and then the correcting engine was switched on. making it possible to change tho flight trajectory to tho assigned direction.

Preliminary processing of the results of radio measurements ofparameters indicated that, as the result of trajectorystationhould contact the moonctober0 AM Moscow time. Stable radio communications are being maintained with the station. According to telemetry data, all systems of the station are continuing to function normally following thecorrection,"

B October: "Automatic stations approaching the moon.oonctober the station was locatedistance0 kilometers from the moon. According to measurement data, contact with the moon should occurctoberrin Moscow time. Communications with the station are stable. Twelve radiohave been held with the station since the beginning of the flight. Analysis of telemctric measurements received from the station show normal functioning of onboard systems. The flight trajectory of the station is near the calculated."

9 October: Automatic stationeached the surface of the moonctoberrinec Moscow time in the region of the Ocean of Storms west of Kepler Crater. During the approach to the moon following the correction which was madearge number of operations were performed which were necessary foroft landing on its surface. Certain operations were not accomplished in accordance with the program and require further testing. During the flight of stationuch practical material was obtained for future operations."

Original document.

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