Mars 5M

[1] The following year, Soviet Minister of Defence Dmitry Ustinov, at the urging of Alexander Pavlovich Vinogradov, directed Lavochkin to develop 5M as a sample return mission to launch in 1980.

[1] The launch vehicle was to be the heavy Proton rocket, using two rockets to send the 8,500 kilograms (18,700 lb) lander out of Earth orbit to Mars, where it would land, collect samples, and separate for return, with a 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) stage returning to Mars orbit to rendezvous with a return spacecraft delivered by another Proton.

[1] To save weight, the return craft would crash land on earth without parachutes, and would be located via a radioactive beacon.

[1] Though the Soviet government approved the mission, and production of equipment began in 1977, it was later deemed unfeasible and with proponent Vinogradov having died it was canceled by the end of the year.

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