|
|
OS
|
In 1960 Korolev proposed a military orbital station (OS), with a crew of 3 to 5, orbiting at 350 to 400 km altitude. The station would conduct military reconnaissance, control other spacecraft in orbit, and undertake basic space research. This initial OS grew into the much larger TKS concept of 1961.
|
|
|
|
|
TKS Heavy Space Station
|
The TKS (Heavy Space Station, also known as TOSZ - Heavy Orbital Station of the Earth) was Korolev's first 1961 project for a large N1-launched military space station. The draft project was completed on 3 May 1961 and marked the beginning of a long struggle throughout the 1960's to get such a station built and launched.
|
|
|
|
|
|
OP
|
Korolev's next attempt to win military support for development of the N-I was his fantastic 'Orbitalniy Poyas' (OP -Orbital Belt) scheme of 20 April 1962. Anticipating Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative by 25 years, he painted a picture of an invincible Soviet space force patrolling the heavens. Two to three large N-I launched military manned stations would control a constellation of strategic assets. Geosynchronous nuclear-powered satellites would provide secure communications.
|
|
|
|
|
OS-1 (1965)
|
Following a meeting between Khrushchev and chief designers at Pitsunda, Khrushchev ordered the start of a project to put a 75 metric ton manned platform with nuclear weapons into low earth orbit (dubbed elsewhere as 'Battlestar Khrushchev'). Korolev was authorized to proceed immediately to upgrade the three stage N vehicle to a maximum 75 metric ton payload in order to launch the station. Work on the OS-1 began on 25 September 1962. By 1965 the mockup of the huge station had been completed.
|
|
|
|
|
OS-1 (1969)
|
By 1969 the giant OS-1 space station had evolved to this configuration. Although pursued at least to the mock-up stage, all plans for orbiting the OS-1 had to be constantly deferred until the N1 booster proved itself. The termination of the N1 launch vehicle program ended any possibility of launching the station.
|
|
|
|
|
OS-1 Lunar
|
A version of the OS-1 station was proposed for use in lunar orbit. No other details beyond this sketch.
|
|
|
|
|
MKBS
|
The culmination of ten years of designs for N1-launched space stations, the MKBS would be cancelled together with the N1. But the technical legacy would live on in new designs for Soyuz and Progress space station logistics spacecraft used with Salyut and Mir.
|
|
|
|