| Soyuz-L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Function: | Carrier rocket | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer: | OKB-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country-Origin: | Soviet Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages: | Two | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Family: | R-7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status: | Retired | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sites: | Baikonur Site 31/6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launches: | 3[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Success: | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First: | 24 November 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last: | 12 August 1971 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payloads: | LK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stagedata: |
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The Soyuz-L (Russian: Союз, meaning "union"), GRAU index 11A511L was a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed by OKB-1 and manufactured by State Aviation Plant No. 1 in Samara, Russia. It was created to test the LK lunar lander in low Earth orbit, as part of the Soviet lunar programme.
The Soyuz-L was a derivative of the original Soyuz rocket featuring the reinforced first stage and boosters supporting the Molniya-M's third stage, so that it could carry a more massive payload. A larger payload fairing was also fitted, to accommodate the LK spacecraft.[2] The Soyuz-L was only launched three times between 1970 and 1971, all successful. The later Soyuz-U used a similar configuration to the Soyuz-L.