April 20, 2017

Spacecraft

The Phobos-Grunt programme was designed to study Mars’s natural satellite Phobos and to bring soil samples back to Earth. In order to complete its mission, a composite spacecraft was to be sent to Mars. This spacecraft comprised several elements:

  • a descent module



  • a cruise module
 Spacecraft composite parts
© Lavochkin Association
 Spacecraft composite
© Lavochkin Association

In addition to these elements, the spacecraft also carried a small Chinese satellite, Yinghuo-1 (YH-1), which was supposed study Mars’s environment. It was launched using a Zenit-3F rocket on November 8th, 2011, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

 Zenit-3F launcher
Zenit-3F
launcher
 Integrated spacecraft - October 2009
Integrated spacecraft - October 2009
© Lavochkin Association