Lunar Orbit OPS Credit - © Mark Wade

In Chelomei's draft project for the UR-700, he proposed that lunar versions of the Almaz OPS be placed in lunar orbit to conduct detailed reconnaissance of the surface using manned assistance.

The OPS would also be used as a command post to co-ordinate the work of lunar surface operations and organize rescues in the case of emergencies on the surface. The UR-700 could place a station of 37,080 kg into lunar orbit - sufficient for a complete OPS, an LK-700 return spacecraft, and many metric tons of additional payload.

Crew Size: 2. Length: 11.50 m (37.70 ft). Maximum Diameter: 4.15 m (13.61 ft). Mass: 37,000 kg (81,000 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: UR-700.

• Yevtifyev, M D, Dolgiy put k 'Burye', Vyzovskaya kniga, Moscow, 1996.. History of development of Russian winged rocketry, from Keldysh's upgrade of Saenger's antipodal bomber, through Bondarenko's ramjets, to Buran and Burya intercontinental cruise missiles.