“LKS” The Chelomei alternative to Buran
Giuseppe De Chiara
31 – 08 – 2012
All the drawings are copyright of the author Foreword
In 1976 the Soviet government formally authorized the “head-designer” Valentin Glushko to proceed with the Buran project, intended as a mere Space Shuttle copy at that times in advanced development stage. The Buran project, and its massive launcher Energia (strongly supported by Glushko himself) were the targets of several critics among Russian space designers and scientists. One of them was the authored Vladimir Chelomei, a Glushko’s former alley, and also responsible of the famous OKB-52 (from which was sorted the Proton rocket, the TKS spacecraft and the Almaz and Salyut space stations). Chelomei affirmed that the Buran project was too big, heavy and expensive for the Russian possibilities of that times so he proposed, as alternative, a scaled down copy of the actual Space Shuttle, such spacecraft would be lighter and launched by one of his Proton rockets. The result of such idea was the LKS ( Легкий Космический Самолет – Light Spaceplane) project, proposed in 1979 as alternative to Buran/Energia. The LKS maintained all the main features of the original Shuttle/Buran project only scaled down, included a cargo bay with the possibility to carry a wide range of both military and civilian payloads to LEO.
In 1980 Chelomei ordered the construction of a full scale mock-up that was realized by his team in only one month of full ahead work, as way to further stimulate Soviet authorities in his direction. In 1982 was officially ordered to stop Chelomei any further activity about the LKS project and was reprised to had expended more than 400.000 rubles in a program not formally authorized as the LKS was. In December 1984 the great designer died leaving unfinished his most ambitious project. The real aftermath happened only in 1991 when the mock-up was destroyed in a so called “act of sabotage” by unknown people for unknown reasons. It remains the idea that if the LKS were approved and realized it would be a valid alternative not only to Buran but to Soyuz itself from mid ’90s until today for Mir and ISS space operations (a special thanks to Grigory Omelchenko for the precious help provided).
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 2 LKS Full Scale Mock-Up images
Courtesy of NPO Mashinostroyenia
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 3 OKB-52 LKS – 3 views (1/2)
According to 1980 mock-up
Top View
Front View
Side View
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 4 OKB-52 LKS – 3 views (2/2)
According to 1980 mock-up
Bottom View
Back View
Side View
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 5 OKB-52 LKS – Launch Configuration
Top View
Front View
Side View
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 6 OKB-52 LKS – On-orbit Configuration
Top View
Front View
Side View
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 7 OKB-52 LKS – Landing Configuration
Top View
Front View
Side View
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 8 LKS – Proton (8K82K)
Main Characteristics: Length: 60,8 m (with LKS) Max Diameter: 7.3 m Total Mass: 693.810 kg Payload: 20.700 Kg Propellants: N2O2/UDMH Stages: 3 Launch Site: Baikonur LC-81
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 9 LKS – Proton Exploded view
Launch Configuration
LKS Third Second Stage First Stage Stage
11D442 (x 2) RD-0212 (x 1) RD-0210 (x 3) RD-0275 (x 6) RD-0211 (x 1)
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 10 LKS Main Features
Light Spaceplane (LKS): Crew: 2 Length: 18,75 m Wing Span: 11,60 m Height: 6,70 m Habitable volume: 16.00 m 3 Cargo bay volume : 30.00 m 3 (6,5 x 2,5 m) Launch mass: 19.950 Kg Landing mass: 17.800 Kg Empty mass: 13.800 Kg Payload: 4.000 Kg Engines: 11D442 (2) x 445 kgf Propellants: UDMH/N2O2 x 2.000 Kg Power System: Batteries/Fuel Cells Escape System: Ejection Seats (Zvezda K-36D)
Performances: ∆∆∆v: 300 m/sec (total) Orbital parameters: 259 x 220 Km @ 51,65° L/D Ratio: 1,5 (Hypersonic) Cross-range: ± 2.000 Km Landing speed: 300 Km/h
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 11 LKS – Cross sections
Top View
Front View
Side View
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 12 Russian manned spacecrafts comparison
All drawings are at same scale
VKK Buran LKS TKS Soyuz TMA
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 13 LKS – Proton Launch
LEGEND 1. Launch (T = 00:00) 2. First Stage Separation (T = 02:06) 3. Second Stage Separation (T = 05:34) 4. Third Stage Separation (T = 09:49) 5. LKS OMS Ignition (T = 10:00) 6. LKS in LEO (T = 13:20)
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 14 LKS Atmosphere re-entry
LEGEND
1. LKS gain the correct asset for burn 2. LKS OMS ignition & de-orbit burn 3. Braking maneuverings 4. LKS re-entry into atmosphere
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 15 LKS Landing
LEGEND 1. LKS is back into atmosphere 2. Braking maneuverings 3. LKS gain the landing alley 4. LKS assume a steep descent angle 5. LKS turns to Baikonur runaway 6. LKS lands and open the brake chute
“LKS”
Giuseppe De Chiara © 2010-2012 16