Soyuz-L

{{Short description|Soviet expendable carrier rocket}}

{{about|the Soyuz-L rocket|other Soyuz variants|Soyuz (rocket family)}}

{{confused|Soyuz 1}}

{{refimprove|date=December 2009}}

{{Infobox Rocket

|name = Soyuz-L

|function = Carrier rocket

|manufacturer = OKB-1

|country-origin = Soviet Union

|height = {{convert|50|m}}

|diameter = {{convert|10.3|m}}

|mass = {{convert|300000|kg}}

|stages = Two

|capacities =

{{Infobox Rocket/Payload

|location = LEO

|kilos = {{convert|5500|kg}}

}}

|family = R-7

|status = Retired

|sites = Baikonur Site 31/6

|launches = 3{{cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/soyuz-l.htm |title=Soyuz-L (11A511L) |work=Gunter's space page |first=Gunter |last=Krebs |access-date=6 May 2016}}

|success = 3

|first = 24 November 1970

|last = 12 August 1971

|payloads = LK

|stagedata =

{{Infobox Rocket/Stage

|type = booster

|number = 4

|engines = 1 RD-107-8D728

|thrust = {{convert|995|kN}}

|SI = 314 sec

|burntime = 119 seconds

|fuel = RP-1/LOX

}}

{{Infobox Rocket/Stage

|type = Stage

|stageno = First

|engines = 1 RD-108-8D727

|thrust = {{convert|977|kN}}

|SI = 315 sec

|burntime = 291 seconds

|fuel = RP-1/LOX

}}

{{Infobox Rocket/Stage

|type = Stage

|stageno = Second

|engines = 1 RD-0110

|thrust = {{convert|294|kN|lbf}}

|SI = 330 sec

|burntime = 246 seconds

|fuel = RP-1/LOX

}}

}}

The Soyuz-L ({{langx|ru|Союз}}, meaning "union"), GRAU index 11A511L was a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed by OKB-1 and manufactured by State Aviation Plant No. 1 in Samara, Russia. It was created to test the LK lunar lander in low Earth orbit, as part of the Soviet lunar programme.

The Soyuz-L was a derivative of the original Soyuz rocket featuring the reinforced first stage and boosters supporting the Molniya-M's third stage, so that it could carry a more massive payload. A larger payload fairing was also fitted, to accommodate the LK spacecraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/soyuz.htm|title=Soyuz|last=Wade|first=Mark|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|access-date=2009-04-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107163113/http://astronautix.com/lvs/soyuz.htm|archive-date=2010-01-07}} The Soyuz-L was only launched three times between 1970 and 1971, all successful. The later Soyuz-U used a similar configuration to the Soyuz-L.