Hello,
has anyone information, how the versions of the Blok-L upperstage of the Molnyia-M launch vehicle differ from each other.
As far as i know, there are at least following versions:
- Blok-L for interplanetary missions and a few initial Molniya satellites
- Blok-ML for Molniya satellites
- Blok-2BL for Oko satellites, but also Interbol 1, 2 and IRS-1C
- Blok-SO-L for Prognoz satellites
Gunter
That is really a pity that no one answered your question, Gunther!
I would also like to know the differences between the Blok L variants.
The website
http://hometown.aol.de/b14643/space-rockets by N. Brügge gives the following variants:
Blok-L,-MVL,-SOL,-2BL and -2BLM
Maybe the only differences can be found in the type of payload adapter and/or preprogrammed type of trajectory.
Tobi
I would imagine that most of the differences were involved in the avionics - much as the various Block-DM stages differ by avionics packages, the same is probably true for Block-L. In particular, given that the avionics for Molniya is pretty made up by gears, probably the flight control system for a Molniya comsat launch and a Prognoz launch are very different.
The only major variations were the Blok-L for the E-6 Luna missions and the Blok-IVL for Venera-7 and Venera-8. Blok-IVL feature modified tanks containing 140 kilogrammes of additional propellant.
http://www.laspace.ru/rus/venera7.php
On the laspace website, the upperstage is called "блок НВЛ", therefore the transcription should be "NVL", not "IVL"
The only major variations were the Blok-L for the E-6 Luna missions and the Blok-IVL for Venera-7 and Venera-8. Blok-IVL feature modified tanks containing 140 kilogrammes of additional propellant.
http://www.laspace.ru/rus/venera7.php
On the laspace website, the upperstage is called "блок НВЛ", therefore the transcription should be "NVL", not "IVL"
Me and my dyslexia!
Sorry for the confusion
Stan
P.S. I'm now sitting in the stupid corner...