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Lunar-4 / Lunik-IV upper rocket stage, Lunar History
Richard Miles
post Nov 6 2010, 02:55 PM
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On May 16 this year an asteroid, 2010 KQ, was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS). A few months later, the effect of solar radiation pressure on its orbit was determined thereby showing it to be an artificial object in orbit around the Sun. Once it was evident it was not a natural body its designation was withdrawn and it was reassigned the original descriptor given to it by the CSS, namely RK252A5. With the help of Bill Gray (Project Pluto) it has been possible to narrow down the possibilities as to the identity of this object.

It now appears that RK252A5 may be associated with the failed attempt to land Luna-4 (Lunik-IV) on the Moon in April 1963. There are two possibilities. Either it is the craft comprising the Luna-4 probe mounted on a KTDU module (used to decelerate the probe before landing) or the Blok-L upper stage of the Molniya launch vehicle. Both are likely to have gone into heliocentric orbit. We have measurements of three properties of the object, namely (a) its area/mass ratio, (cool.gif its absolute magnitude and © its reflectance spectrum. The latter is very similar to that of space-weathered TiO2 paint. The Luna-4 probe was essentially the same as the successful Luna-9 one ( http://www.astronautix.com/graphics/l/luna9bus.jpg
). To help differentiate between the two possibilities, does have anyone have a picture of or relevant information about the Luna-4 Blok-L upper stage?

Thanks in advance,
Richard Miles
Director, Asteroids and Remote Planets Section, British Astronomical Association
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Paolo
post Nov 6 2010, 04:35 PM
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this is one of the few images of the block L that I remember seeing http://www.astronautix.com/engines/s15400.htm
you may also try to post on the Russian Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/ they should be able to understand English), I think that they may be more helpful
and of course, keep us updated on this fascinating investigation!
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Paolo
post Nov 7 2010, 04:22 PM
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more pictures of the "Blok L"
http://cosmopark.ru/r7/r712.htm
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Richard Miles
post Nov 7 2010, 08:42 PM
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Paolo,

Many thanks for the links. I had seen the first one but not the second one. It seems that these images are of a more recent example than the 1963 launch but the size and the fact that they are white in colour supports the option of it being a Blok-L. I also wondered whether the early Blok-D was also relevant and similar in size. I believe it looked more like a painted cylinder. The fading of paint by UV from the sun is caused by the polymeric binder degrading so if the stage is wrapped in a polymer of some sort this too would behave similarly.

The apparent area of the Blok-L projected on the sky is likely to be close to 2.5 x 3.0 m or 7.5 sq.m. In contrast the Luna-4 with its KTDU would be no more than 5 sq.m and less reflective on average, so probably about 0.8-1.0 magnitude fainter.

All in all the Blok-L stage looks to be the best choice.

Cheers, Richard
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