# UR-700

> Soviet proposal for a heavy lunar booster rocket

**Wikidata**: [Q113409603](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113409603)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ur-700

## Summary
UR-700 was a Soviet proposal for a super heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to support lunar missions. Developed in 1968 by Vladimir Chelomey's NPO Mashinostroyeniya, it was based on the Proton rocket design and intended to carry very heavy payloads to low-Earth orbit.

## Key Facts
- Proposed in September 1968 as a lunar booster rocket design
- Designed by Vladimir Chelomey and NPO Mashinostroyeniya
- Based on the Proton (UR-500) rocket design
- Classified as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle
- Used RD-270 engines with 1,1-dimethylhydrazine fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide oxidizer
- Part of the Soviet crewed lunar programs and Universal Rocket family
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Has a physical model displayed at the State Museum of Cosmonautics in Kaluga

## FAQs
### Q: What was the UR-700 rocket designed for?
A: The UR-700 was designed as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle for Soviet lunar missions, intended to carry very heavy payloads to low-Earth orbit as part of the Soviet crewed lunar program.

### Q: Who designed the UR-700 rocket?
A: The UR-700 was designed by Vladimir Chelomey and his team at NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a Soviet design bureau specializing in rocketry and spacecraft.

### Q: When was the UR-700 proposed?
A: The UR-700 was proposed in September 1968, as indicated by its inception date with the qualifier "applies to part: presentation."

## Why It Matters
The UR-700 represents a significant chapter in the Soviet space program's efforts to compete with the United States during the Space Race. As a proposed super heavy-lift launch vehicle, it was part of the Soviet Union's strategic response to America's Apollo program and lunar ambitions. Though it never progressed beyond the proposal and design phase, the UR-700 demonstrates the Soviet Union's commitment to developing advanced space technology and their parallel efforts to achieve lunar exploration capabilities. The project also showcases the innovative work of Vladimir Chelomey and NPO Mashinostroyeniya, who were instrumental in advancing Soviet rocketry. The UR-700's development contributed to the broader knowledge base that would inform later Soviet and Russian space launch vehicle designs, even though the specific vehicle was never built.

## Notable For
- Proposed as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle for lunar missions during the height of the Space Race
- Based on the successful Proton (UR-500) rocket design, showing evolutionary development
- Featured advanced RD-270 engines using hypergolic propellants
- Part of the Universal Rocket family, indicating a systematic approach to rocket development
- Has a preserved model at the State Museum of Cosmonautics, maintaining its legacy in space history

## Body
### Development Background
The UR-700 emerged from the Soviet Union's ambitious space program in the late 1960s, during a period of intense competition with the United States for space supremacy. The proposal came at a critical juncture when both superpowers were racing to achieve lunar exploration milestones.

### Technical Specifications
The rocket was designed to be a super heavy-lift launch vehicle, capable of carrying very heavy payloads to low-Earth orbit. It utilized RD-270 engines, which were advanced for their time, using a combination of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine as fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide as an oxidizing agent. This hypergolic propellant combination was chosen for its reliability and storability.

### Design Heritage
The UR-700 was based on the Proton (UR-500) rocket, which was already in use by the Soviet space program. This approach of building upon existing technology was common in rocket development, allowing engineers to leverage proven systems while scaling up for more demanding missions.

### Program Context
As part of the Soviet crewed lunar programs, the UR-700 was intended to support the USSR's efforts to land cosmonauts on the Moon. It was also associated with the Universal Rocket family, suggesting a broader strategy of developing a range of launch vehicles for different mission profiles.

### Legacy
Although the UR-700 never progressed beyond the proposal stage, its development contributed to the Soviet space program's technological advancement. The concepts and engineering challenges addressed in its design likely informed later projects. Today, a model of the UR-700 is preserved at the State Museum of Cosmonautics in Kaluga, serving as a tangible reminder of this ambitious proposal in the history of space exploration.