NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Partial Failure

Cosmos 159

Launch Time
Tue May 16, 1967 21:44 UTC

Cosmos 159 was to be placed in lunar orbit, but the S1.5400A engine on the upper stage Block L stopped prematurely, and put it in a highly elliptical orbit.

Rocket

Molniya-M/Block L
RVSN USSR
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 4,391 kN
Payload to LEO: 6,200 kg
Payload to GTO: 2,400 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 4
Rocket Height: 44.23 m
Fairing Diameter: 2.58 m
Fairing Height: 6.74 m

Mission Details

Cosmos 159

It is the first E-6LS lunar probe, for nine days tests of the decimetric communication system can still be done and are a success. The probe re-entered the atmosphere on November 11, 1977.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,620.0 kg
Lunar orbit

Location

Site 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Stats

1967

50th orbital launch attempt

Molniya-M

8th mission
1st mission of 1967