KLE Lunar Base Element

Mission Profile

KLE (Kvant Lunnoy Ekspeditsii, or Lunar Expedition Quantum) Lunar Base Element was a Soviet concept from the mid-1960s for a modular pressurized habitation unit designed to be landed on the Moon and serve as the first element of a permanent lunar base. The concept envisioned robotically pre-deploying the habitat before a crewed landing, allowing cosmonauts to move in immediately upon arrival for stays of several weeks. KLE formed part of the broader Soviet post-landing lunar base planning that included the LZhM and various rover and scientific equipment concepts. Like all Soviet post-landing lunar base plans, KLE was never funded for development after the N1 rocket's failures ended Soviet crewed lunar ambitions.