Soyuz-A
initially promoted the Soyuz A-B-V circumlunar complex concept in which a two-man craft Soyuz 7K would rendezvous with other components in Earth orbit to assemble a lunar excursion vehicle, the components being delivered by the proven R-7 rocket.
Besides the Soyuz 7K spacecraft, the complex would feature a Soyuz 9K booster and a Soyuz 11K tanker with twin whip antennas.
The 7K would have been equipped with cameras and sensors to study the lunar surface during the flyby, at a distance of 1,000 to 20,000 km from the Moon's surface. Total flight time would have been 7 to 8 days.
Relation with other Soyuz versions
Soyuz A is the base concept for the entire Soyuz spacecraft family. The 7K series is a direct descendant of this original proposal.The list below shows proposed, flown and military Soyuz versions.
- Soyuz-A
- *Soyuz P
- **Soyuz PPK
- *Soyuz R
- **Soyuz 7K-TK
- *Soyuz 7K-VI Zvezda
- *Soyuz OIS
- **Soyuz OB-VI
- **Soyuz 7K-S
- **Soyuz 7K-ST
- ***Soyuz T
- ****Soyuz TM
- ****Soyuz TMA
- ****Soyuz TMA-M
- ****Soyuz MS
- ***Progress M
- ***Progress M1
- ***Progress MS
- *Soyuz 7K-LOK
- **Soyuz 7K-L1
- ***Soyuz 7K-L1E
- *Soyuz 7K-OK
- **Soyuz 7K-OKS
- ***Soyuz 7K-T
- ****Progress 7K-TG
- ***'''Soyuz 7K-TM'''