Aelita was a Soviet design of a version of a Soyuz spacecraft started in 1978.

A Soyuz spacecraft was planned to be modified to become the Aelita project satellite.

Since the spacecraft/satellite would not need to go through reentry into the atmosphere of Earth, the Soyuz descent equipment and orbital modules would be removed, so the infrared astronomy telescope could be installed.

In May 1974, the N1 launch vehicle and the MKBS space station both were cancelled after the many failures of the N1 rocket.

[6][1] Aelita is known for being one of the longest projects on the drawing board, started in 1965 and ending in 1982, 17 years in planning.