# Soyuz 7K-LOK

> Soviet crewed lunar orbiting spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q1957135](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1957135)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_7K-LOK)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soyuz-7k-lok

## Summary
Soyuz 7K-LOK was a Soviet crewed lunar orbiting spacecraft developed as part of the Soviet lunar program. It was designed to carry cosmonauts around the Moon but was never flown due to the cancellation of the Soviet crewed lunar mission.

## Key Facts
- Part of the L-3 lunar program, a Soviet effort to land cosmonauts on the Moon
- Classified as a crewed spacecraft and spacecraft model
- Listed as an abandoned entity, never completed or flown
- Has 14 sitelinks across multiple language Wikipedias
- Associated with the Soviet Union as its country of origin
- Has a 3D model available on Wikimedia Commons
- Includes multiple aliases in Russian, Japanese, and other languages
- Has an image available on Wikimedia Commons
- Categorized under the commons category "Soyuz 7K-LOK"
- Has a Freebase ID for cross-referencing

### Q: What was the purpose of Soyuz 7K-LOK?
A: Soyuz 7K-LOK was designed as a lunar orbiting spacecraft to carry Soviet cosmonauts around the Moon as part of the L-3 lunar program. It was intended to be the counterpart to the Apollo Command/Service Module.

### Q: Was Soyuz 7K-LOK ever flown in space?
A: No, Soyuz 7K-LOK was never flown. The entire Soviet crewed lunar program, including the L-3 complex that 7K-LOK was part of, was cancelled before any missions could launch.

### Q: What happened to the Soyuz 7K-LOK program?
A: The Soyuz 7K-LOK program was abandoned along with the rest of the Soviet lunar program when the USSR decided to cancel its crewed lunar landing efforts in the early 1970s.

## Why It Matters
Soyuz 7K-LOK represents a significant "what if" moment in space exploration history. As the Soviet counterpart to NASA's Apollo Command/Service Module, it was designed to enable Soviet cosmonauts to orbit the Moon, potentially beating the United States to this achievement. The spacecraft was part of the L-3 complex, which would have included a lunar lander and other components necessary for a crewed lunar mission. Its development reflected the Soviet Union's serious commitment to competing with the United States in the Space Race. Though never completed, the 7K-LOK program pushed Soviet aerospace engineering forward and contributed to the technological foundation that later Soyuz spacecraft would build upon. The cancellation of 7K-LOK and the broader lunar program marked a pivotal shift in Soviet space priorities, redirecting resources to space stations and other orbital missions instead.

## Notable For
- Being the Soviet counterpart to NASA's Apollo Command/Service Module
- Representing the USSR's answer to the American lunar landing program
- Never being completed or flown despite significant development work
- Being part of the L-3 complex, the Soviet Union's crewed lunar landing architecture
- Having multiple aliases across different languages, reflecting international interest

## Body
### Development Context
Soyuz 7K-LOK was developed during the height of the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States. The spacecraft was designed to be the orbital portion of a crewed lunar mission, where cosmonauts would travel to the Moon, orbit it, and return to Earth without landing.

### Technical Classification
The spacecraft is classified as both a crewed spacecraft and a spacecraft model. It is also listed as an abandoned entity, indicating that development was halted before completion. The 7K-LOK was intended to be part of the larger L-3 lunar complex.

### Program Cancellation
The entire Soviet crewed lunar program, including the 7K-LOK, was cancelled in the early 1970s. This decision came after the United States successfully landed Apollo 11 on the Moon in 1969, effectively winning the race to achieve a crewed lunar landing.

### Available Documentation
Despite never flying, the 7K-LOK has significant documentation available, including technical drawings and 3D models. The spacecraft has a dedicated commons category on Wikimedia and is referenced across multiple language Wikipedias, indicating ongoing historical and technical interest in the program.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013