N1 24 engine version Credit - © Mark Wade

Final configuration of N1 at time of development go-ahead. 75 tonne payload selected to support OS-1 heavy space station program.

In the early projects a 'super ICBM' payload was proposed for the N1. The Raskat dispenser would have delivered 17 multi-megaton nuclear warheads, essentially destroying the United States in a single launch.

Manufacturer: Korolev. Liftoff Thrust: 33,927.500 kN (7,627,205 lbf). Total Mass: 2,110,000 kg (4,650,000 lb). Core Diameter: 10.00 m (32.00 ft). Total Length: 74.00 m (242.00 ft).

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: N1 1962 - A. Gross Mass: 1,384,000 kg (3,051,000 lb). Empty Mass: 117,000 kg (257,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 39,420.000 kN (8,861,960 lbf). Isp: 331 sec. Burn time: 103 sec. Isp(sl): 296 sec. Diameter: 10.00 m (32.00 ft). Span: 17.00 m (55.00 ft). Length: 30.00 m (98.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 24. Engine: NK-15. Status: Study 1963. Includes 14,000 kg for Stage 1-2 interstage and payload fairing. Compared to total fuelled mass excludes 15,000 kg propellant expended in thrust build-up and boil-off prior to liftoff. Values as in draft project as defended on 2-16 July 1962.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: N1 1962 - B. Gross Mass: 506,000 kg (1,115,000 lb). Empty Mass: 50,000 kg (110,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 13,778.000 kN (3,097,417 lbf). Isp: 347 sec. Burn time: 106 sec. Diameter: 6.80 m (22.30 ft). Span: 9.80 m (32.10 ft). Length: 20.00 m (65.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 8. Engine: NK-15V. Status: Study 1962. Includes 3500 kg Stage 2-Stage 3 interstage. Compared to total fuelled mass excludes 1,000 kg in propellants lost to boil-off prior to stage ignition. Values as in draft project as defended on 2-16 July 1962.

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x Stage: N1 1962 - V. Gross Mass: 193,000 kg (425,000 lb). Empty Mass: 16,000 kg (35,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,560.000 kN (350,700 lbf). Isp: 347 sec. Burn time: 368 sec. Diameter: 4.80 m (15.70 ft). Span: 6.80 m (22.30 ft). Length: 12.00 m (39.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 4. Engine: NK-19. Status: Study 1962. Compared to total fuelled mass excludes 1,000 kg in propellants lost to boil-off prior to stage ignition. Values as in draft project as defended on 2-16 July 1962.

1964 February 12 - Launch Vehicle: N1 1962.

• Kremlin meeting on lunar landing plans Nation: USSR. Program: Lunar L3. Spacecraft: L3-1963. VVS officers meet with O G Ivanovskiy for two hours. The Communist Party plans a lunar expedition in the 1968-1970 period. For this the N1 booster will be used, which has a low earth orbit payload of 72 tonnes. The minimum spacecraft to take a crew to the lunar surface and back will have a minimum payload of 200 tonnes; therefore three N1 launches will be required to launch components, which will have to be assembled in orbit. However all of these plans are only on paper, and Kamanin does not see any way the Soviet Union can beat the Americans to the moon, who are already flying Apollo hardware for that mission.References: 376.

• Korolev's plans Nation: USSR. Program: Voskhod, Lunar L1. Spacecraft: Voskhod, Soyuz A, Soyuz B, Soyuz V. Flight: Voskhod 1, Voskhod 2, Voskhod 3, Voskhod 4, Voskhod 5, Voskhod 6, Soyuz A-1, Soyuz A-2, Soyuz A-3, Soyuz A-4. While Kamanin is away arranging screening of Voskhod candidates, Korolev meets with the VVS General Staff. He tells them he wants to have four Voskhods completed by the anniversary of the October Resolution for the first spacewalk. He dreams of a manned lunar flyby by either docking Soyuz A-B-V modules in orbit, or in a single N1 launch (no metal has even yet been cut for the N1 at Kuibyshev). In order to further develop EVA techniques he wants to convert a further five Vostoks into the Voskhod configuration. Meanwhile Kamanin agrees to a compression of the medical screening schedule from 20-25 days to 15-17 days. The physicians will reduce it no further than this.References: 376.

• Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994. ISBN: 1896522815. Dual English/Russian language picture book of the history of the Energia Corporation. Many unique photos and drawings of Korolev's rockets and spacecraft. Republished by Apogee books in 2000. More at amazon.com...