description Zond 5 Overview
Soviet spacecraft that in September 1968 became the first to loop around the Moon and return safely to Earth, carrying biological specimens including tortoises.
insights Why this score
Zond 5 ranks #24 of 101 in the Spacecraft ranking, behind Mercury Freedom 7, ahead of Progress cargo spacecraft.
First circumlunar return to Earth with biological payloads, major precursor to crewed lunar missions.
help Zond 5 FAQ
Did Zond 5 actually orbit the Moon?
Zond 5 followed a circumlunar trajectory, passing around the Moon and returning toward Earth without entering lunar orbit. Its September 1968 flight demonstrated a route relevant to a possible Soviet crewed lunar mission.
What animals were carried aboard Zond 5?
Its biological payload included two Horsfield's tortoises as well as insects, plants, seeds, and microorganisms. The tortoises survived the trip around the Moon and the return to Earth.
Where did Zond 5 land after returning from the Moon?
The capsule splashed down in the Indian Ocean and was recovered by Soviet vessels. It was the first spacecraft to carry living organisms around the Moon and return them safely to Earth.
Was Zond 5 part of the Soyuz program?
It used a modified Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft launched by a Proton rocket. The vehicle lacked the orbital module used by standard Earth-orbiting Soyuz missions and was intended for circumlunar flight.
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