Soviet Lunar Lander- Rushed into production?

[Weaver]

There was even a contingency scheme mooted whereby, if the LEM ascent motor failed to fire, the two astronauts could cannibalize the LEM to build a flying platform, powered by attitude jets and steered by body-weight     which would get them into low lunar orbit where they'd be picked up by the CSM. Obviously, they'd only have the life support endurance provided by their suit packs, but it still beat waiting to run out of air on the surface.

[Rick Lowe]

There was even a contingency scheme mooted whereby, if the LEM ascent motor failed to fire, the two astronauts could cannibalize the LEM to build a flying platform, powered by attitude jets and steered by body-weight     which would get them into low lunar orbit where they'd be picked up by the CSM. Obviously, they'd only have the life support endurance provided by their suit packs, but it still beat waiting to run out of air on the surface.

Interesting - maybe that was what they based the escape procedure in 'The Martian' on...

[Weaver]

There was even a contingency scheme mooted whereby, if the LEM ascent motor failed to fire, the two astronauts could cannibalize the LEM to build a flying platform, powered by attitude jets and steered by body-weight     which would get them into low lunar orbit where they'd be picked up by the CSM. Obviously, they'd only have the life support endurance provided by their suit packs, but it still beat waiting to run out of air on the surface.

Interesting - maybe that was what they based the escape procedure in 'The Martian' on...

This was the most developed version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_escape_systems

[Rick Lowe]

Interesting reading, thanks. 

[Andrew Gorman]

Thanks for the tangential chatter! It is interesting and motivating. If you are interested in Lunar proposals, the "Lunar Exploration Scrapbook" is chock full of proposals and possible whiff models:
https://www.thespacereview.com/article/1038/1
Digging around I found a box labeled "submarines" that included several zeppelins and a Pegasus 1/48 V-2 that saved the Renwal Vanguard half from being cut up.  Here's an in progress shot of parts and bits as of Sunday afternoon, 28/09/2025.

[Andrew Gorman]

It's in the paint shop, and a method to connect all the components is working, although I would rather have extendable landing gear and magnetic connections between the block d, return soyuz, lander and ascent module.  That way lies madness! If you have an in progress build for this mission, GET CRACKING!  You're burning daylight!

[Andrew Gorman]

Consummatum est!  Preliminary pictures are in the completed builds section.  Thank this group for lighting a fire under my tail to build something I've been thinking about for a long, long time.  If the rules allow I'll add more pix and information tomorrow.

[NARSES2]

If the rules allow I'll add more pix and information tomorrow.

By all means go ahead sir