I really don't know from where this name "LK-3" came from...
LK = Лунный Корабль = Lunniy Korabl' = Moon Ship.
If memory serves, LK-1 referred to the Zond circumlunar vehicle and LK-2 was some kind of unmanned lunar rover.
And LOK was Moon Orbital Ship, the Soyuz variant that played the CSM role in the Soviets' LOR plan.
I really don't know from where this name "LK-3" came from...
LK = Лунный Корабль = Lunniy Korabl' = Moon Ship.
If memory serves, LK-1 referred to the Zond circumlunar vehicle and LK-2 was some kind of unmanned lunar rover.
No. There were three separate programs :
- L-1 : spaceship for orbiting the Moon. It would later become the "Zond" spaceship, launched by Proton-K.
- L-2 : vehicle to move on he surface of the Moon. It would later become Lunokhod.
- L-3 : spaceship to land on the moon, launched by N-1.
L-3 is made of LOK (equivalent to Apollo CSM) and LK, the lunar lander.
But "LK-3" means nothing. I don't know why London Science Museum uses this name.
I saw this myself a few days ago, and would urge anyone else who can see it to do so before it closes in March. The LK is obviously grabbing most attention and it's a fascinating machine to see. It was slightly larger than I was expecting, and once you factor in the crasher stage not that different to the LEM (the science museum has a high fidelity replica of the LEM on permanent display).
The most surprising display was the Voskhod 1 capsule. You cannot imagine how cramped the inside is until you see it, and it's in very stark contrast to the Vostok directly next to it.
I think the only change to the exhibit I would have liked, would have been the ability to walk around the LK. As it is shown you can't see the back of the machine or even the sides that well. With the Vostok, Voskhod and Soyuz on the other hand, there are museum staff available with mirrors to help you look inside. I was able to take a few photographs with permission. They won't allow anyone to use flash, there was actually a photographer for the museum there who was working without any lights. I think they might also stop people at busier times, I went before midday.