Soyuz to the Moon - but how to return?

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Kerry Stevenson - 12 Aug 2005 03:45 GMT

I recently read of the plan to sell commerical seats to the moon via a
Soyuz flyby. Of course, the Soyuz was originally designed to go to the
moon during the 1960's space race, but what I am wondering about is the
capability of the Soyuz to withstand the much greater re-entry heating
generated by a much faster return to earth from the moon. Are they
altering its normal heat shield? Or is the regular heat shield suitable
for both applications?

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Steen - 15 Aug 2005 10:06 GMT

> I recently read of the plan to sell commerical seats to the moon via a
> Soyuz flyby. Of course, the Soyuz was originally designed to go to the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> they altering its normal heat shield? Or is the regular heat shield
> suitable for both applications?

Hm, maybe they'd just strap-on a couple of retros?

/steen

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Proponent@gmx.net - 16 Aug 2005 10:19 GMT

A beefed-up heat shield would certainly be among the necessary
modifications. Lunar-return speed is roughly the square root of two
times the speed in low Earth orbit. Therefore the kinetic energy to be
dissipated on a lunar return is about twice that on return from orbit.

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JP787 - 16 Aug 2005 23:01 GMT

Copied from:
http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes_july25_aug7_04.html

"The Soyuz would require a kick-stage for the cis-lunar run. On the
return leg, the craft would double-dip into the Earth's atmosphere,
making use of a thicker-than-normal Soyuz thermal protection system en
route to a parachute touchdown."

So yes, they are altering its normal heat sheild.

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Space Forum / Space Flight / August 2005

Soyuz to the Moon - but how to return?