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Luna E-6LS No.112

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E-6LS No.112
Mission typeLunar orbiter
Technology
OperatorSoviet space program
Mission durationFailed to orbit
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeE-6LS
ManufacturerOKB-1
Launch mass1,700 kilograms (3,700 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date7 February 1968, 10:43:54 (1968-02-07UTC10:43:54Z) UTC
RocketMolniya-M 8K78M s/n Ya716-57
Launch siteBaikonur 1/5
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Luna E-6LS No.112, sometimes identified by NASA as Luna 1968A,[1] was a Soviet spacecraft which was lost in a launch failure in 1968. It was a 1,700-kilogram (3,700 lb) Luna E-6LS spacecraft, the second of three to be launched. The spacecraft was intended to enter Selenocentric orbit, where it would study the Moon, and demonstrate technology for future crewed Lunar missions.[2]

Luna E-6LS No.112 was launched at 10:43:54 on 7 February 1968, atop a Molniya-M 8K78M carrier rocket with a Blok-L upper stage,[3] flying from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[4] During third stage flight, a fuel valve or inlet became stuck, resulting in the gas generator consuming fuel at a higher rate than normal. The rocket ran out of fuel 524.6 seconds after launch, and consequently failed to reach orbit.[5] Prior to the release of information about its mission, NASA correctly identified that it had been an attempt to place a spacecraft into orbit around the Moon, and that the later Luna 14 spacecraft had the same configuration.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Williams, David R. (6 January 2005). "Tentatively Identified Missions and Launch Failures". NASA NSSDC. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  2. ^ Wade, Mark. "Luna E-6LS". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  3. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Molniya-M Blok-L". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  4. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "Soyuz". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.