In 1960 Korolev proposed a military orbital station (OS), with a crew of 3 to 5, orbiting at 350 to 400 km altitude. The station would conduct military reconnaissance, control other spacecraft in orbit, and undertake basic space research. This initial OS grew into the much larger TKS concept of 1961.

On 23 June 1960 Korolev wrote to the Ministry of Defense, again trying to obtain support for a military orbital station (OS), on which a decision had been deferred to the end of the year. The N-I version of the station would have a mass of 25 to 30 metric tons and the N-II version 60 to 70 metric tons. Korolev pointed out that his design bureau had already completed a draft project, in which 14 work brigades had participated. Missions the station could accomplish included:

• Reconnaissance
• Combat operations against enemy spacecraft
• Strike against any point on earth
• Communications and relay functions
• Military applications studies
• Defense against enemy ballistic missiles
• Study of the space environment
• Study of the earth and planets
• Astronomical observations
• Weather observation
• Interorbital communications
• Study of the sun
• Biological research
• Radiation control studies

Korolev would not obtain a positive response to this proposal. As the N1 launch vehicle design grew, this initial OS grew into the much larger TKS of 1961.

Crew Size: 5. Mass: 30,000 kg (66,000 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: N1.

• 1960 June 23 - Korolev tries to obtain support for a military orbital station - Launch Vehicle: N1.

  Korolev wrote to the Ministry of Defence, trying to obtain support for a military orbital station (OS). The station would have a crew of 3 to 5, orbited at 350 to 400 km altitude. The station would conduct military reconnaissance, control other spacecraft in orbit, and undertake basic space research. The N-I version of the station would have a mass of 25 to 30 tonnes and the N-II version 60 to 70 tonnes. Korolev pointed out that his design bureau had already completed a draft project, in which 14 work brigades had participated.