Mission Summary
Kosmos 111 was the first of two hastily assembled Soviet lunar orbiters, thrown together in early 1966 to beat the American Lunar Orbiter program into orbit around the Moon and to mark the 23rd Congress of the Communist Party. Launched March 1, 1966, it was meant to become the first spacecraft to circle another world.
Engineers adapted the existing Ye-6 lander bus into a rudimentary orbiter, designated Ye-6S, and prepared the first probe in less than a month. It reached a parking orbit around Earth, but the Blok L upper stage that was to send it toward the Moon lost roll control and never fired.
Stranded in Earth orbit, the probe received the cover designation Kosmos 111 and reentered the atmosphere two days after launch. Its failure left the prize of the first lunar orbiter to its identical backup, which succeeded a month later as Luna 10.
Sources and notes can be found on the Sources page.
