[FPSPACE] Almaz K?

[Mark Wade]

Not only was TKS sized to be launched by Proton, but also note that it
was also supposed to be sharing common hardware with the various
circumlunar, lunar landing, and Mars expedition projects proposed by
Chelomei. And the FGB was to be used for not just major resupply, but
on specialized missions (like the later FGB-derived Mir modules).

Analogous was the use of the Apollo CSM launched by Saturn IB for
earth-orbit missions with a mass of 18 tonnes - huge overkill for
missions just to deliver three crew to a station that a 6.3-tonne
Soyuz could handle.

Unfortunately the Orion CEV will represent the same waste of payload....


-- 
Mark Wade
Encyclopedia Astronautica
http://www.astronautix.com/
astronautix at gmail.com