N1-L3 - 1964

The N1 launch vehicle for the N1-L3 lunar landing mission as described in the draft project of 1964. The actual N1 that flew in 1969 to 1972 had lighter first and third stages, but never demonstrated a full fuel load using superchilled propellants as planned in the draft project..

Manufacturer: Korolev. LEO Payload: 95,000 kg (209,000 lb). to: 225 km Orbit. at: 51.60 degrees. Liftoff Thrust: 44,000.000 kN (9,891,000 lbf). Total Mass: 2,750,000 kg (6,060,000 lb). Core Diameter: 17.00 m (55.00 ft). Total Length: 105.00 m (344.00 ft). Flyaway Unit Cost $: 604.000 million. in: 1985 unit dollars.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: N1 1964 - A. Gross Mass: 1,942,000 kg (4,281,000 lb). Empty Mass: 192,000 kg (423,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 49,420.000 kN (11,110,050 lbf). Isp: 331 sec. Burn time: 113 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: 30. Engine: NK-15. Status: Development ended 1964. As per draft project for N1-L3, 1964. Block A modified with six additional engines and propellant increased by 550 tonnes by using chilled propellants.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: N1 1964 - B. Gross Mass: 506,000 kg (1,115,000 lb). Empty Mass: 50,000 kg (110,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 13,700.000 kN (3,079,800 lbf). Isp: 346 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: Development ended 1964. As per draft project for N1-L3, 1964. Specific impulse estimate down one second from 1962 draft project. Thrust said to be increased 2% but not reflected in figures given.

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x Stage: N1 1964 - 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: Development ended 1964. As per draft project for N1-L3, 1964. Thrust said to be increased 2% but not reflected in figures given.

1963 March 21 - Launch Vehicle: N1 1964.

• Presidium of Inter-institution Soviet Nation: USSR. Program: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz A, Soyuz B, Soyuz V, Soyuz 7K-OK. The expert commission report on Soyuz is reviewed by the Chief Designers from 10:00 to 14:00. The primary objective of the Soyuz project is to develop the technology for docking in orbit. This will allow the spacecraft to make flights of many months duration and allow manned flyby of the moon. Using docking of 70 tonne components launched by the N1 booster will allow manned flight to the Moon, Venus, and Mars. Keldysh, Chelomei and Glushko all support the main objective of Soyuz, to obtain and perfect docking technology. But Chelomei and Glushko warn of the unknowns of the project. Korolev agrees with the assessment that not all the components of the system - the 7K, 9K, and 11K spacecraft - will fly by the end of 1964. But he does argue that the first 7K will fly in 1964, and the first manned 7K flight will come in 1965. References: 376.

• N1 Plans Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: TMK-1, L3-1963, OS-1 (1965). An Inter-Institution Soviet considers Korolev's N1 plans. He believes the first booster will be launched in 1965. The N1 is to have a payload capability of 75 tonnes to a 250 km altitude orbit, 50 tonnes to a 3000 km altitude orbit, and 16 tonnes in geostationary orbit. It could launch spacecraft capable of landing men on the moon and returning them to earth, or manned flybys of Mars or Venus. Three to ten launches would be needed for such missions, with the components being docked together in low earth orbit. The N1 can also be used to launch a large space station for military research. After the N1 discussion a decision is made that cosmonauts will not have to spend more than three to four days in a spacecraft mock-up on the ground to prove their readiness for flight. A simulation of the entire flight duration is not necessary.References: 376.

• Voskhod abort system Nation: USSR. Program: Voskhod, Lunar L1, Lunar . Spacecraft: Voskhod, LK-1. Flight: Voskhod 1. Kamanin reviews the Voskhod abort system with Korolev. Up to T+27 seconds, there is no possibility of saving the crew in the event of a booster failure; from T+27 seconds to T+44 seconds, escape would be difficult, but is possible; and from T+44 seconds to T+501 seconds abort should be possible, with the capsule landing on Soviet territory. Afterwards, Korolev speaks with Kamanin secretly and privately. Korolev reveals that he has discussed a greater VVS role in space with Marshal Krylov, but that Krylov is adamantly opposed to the VVS assuming such a mission. Korolev is seeking a resolution from the Communist Party that will authorise him to develop a manned lunar flyby and landing system using his N1 booster. He believes that Chelomei's UR-500 booster will not have sufficient payload to mount a manned flyby - a docking in low earth orbit will be required. But Chelomei has rejected the use of docking, and is even designing his UR-700 to allow a lunar landing without the use of docking.

  Finally Korolev gets to the purpose of the secret meeting. He wants Feoktistov to be aboard Voskhod 1, despite the opinion of Kamanin and the physicians. Kamanin reiterates that the most qualified crew would be Komarov, Volynov, and Lazarev; and if he gives in on Feoktistov, then Komarov, Feoktistov, Lazarev. But Korolev is opposed to Lazarev, and insists that the crew should be Komarov, Feoktistov, and Yegorov. From Kamanin's point of view this is flying a space mission with two invalids aboard. Lazarev is a qualified and fit flight surgeon, a qualified pilot as well as a physician with 15 years of research experience in aviation medicine. Korolev is adamant that the two passengers should be civilian, not military. No agreement is possible.References: 376.

• Voskhod/Soyuz crewing plans Nation: USSR. Program: Voskhod, Soyuz, Lunar L3, . Spacecraft: LK-1, LK, Soyuz 7K-LOK, Soyuz 7K-L1, Voskhod. Flight: Voskhod 3, Voskhod 5, Soyuz 1, Soyuz 2A, Soyuz 3A, Soyuz 4A. Kamanin meets with Korolev at 15:00 to discuss crew plans. As Soyuz pilot candidates, Kamanin proposes Gagarin, Nikolayev, Bykovsky, Komarov, Kolodin, Artyukhin, and Matinchenko. Korolev counters by proposing supplemental training of a supplemental group of engineer-cosmonauts from the ranks of OKB-1. He calls Anokhin, his lead test pilot, informs Korolev that there are 100 engineers working at the bureau that are potential cosmonauts candidates, of which perhaps 25 would complete the selection process. Kamanin agrees to assist OKB-1 in flight training of these engineer-cosmonauts. Kamanin again proposes Volynov and Katys as prime crew for the Voskhod 3 12-15 day flight. Korolev reveals that, even though Kamanin will have the crew ready by October, the spacecraft for the flight may not yet even be ready by November - Kamanin thinks January 1966 is more realistic. The discussion turns to the female EVA flight - Ponomaryova as pilot, Solovyova as spacewalker. It is decided that a group of 6 to 8 cosmonauts will begin dedicated training in September for lunar flyby and landing missions. Korolev advises Kamanin that metal fabrication of the N1 superbooster first article will be completed by the end of 1965. The booster will have a payload to low earth orbit of 90 tonnes, and later versions with uprated engines will reach 130 tonnes payload. Korolev foresees the payload for the first N1 tests being a handful of Soyuz spacecraft.References: 376.

• Daunting year ahead Nation: USSR. Program: Voskhod, Soyuz, Lunar L1. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-OK, Soyuz 7K-L1, Soyuz 7K-LOK, LK. Flight: Soyuz 1, Soyuz 2A, Soyuz 7K-L1 mission 1, Soviet Lunar Landing. Kamanin looks ahead to the very difficult tasks scheduled for 1966. There are to be 5 to 6 Soyuz flights, the first tests of the N1 heavy booster, the first docking in space. Preparations will have to intensify for the first manned flyby of the moon in 1967, following by the planned first Soviet moon landing in 1967-1969. Kamanin does not see how it can all be done on schedule, especially without a reorganization of the management of the Soviet space program.References: 376.

• Semenov, Yuri P Editor, Raketno-kosmicheskaya korporatsiya 'Energia' imeni S P Koroleva, Moscow, Russia, 1996. Russian in-house history of the Energia Corporation and its predecessors. Unprecedented detail, photographs, designations, and drawings, on the products of Korolev's OKB.

• Clark, Philip, The Soviet Manned Space Program, Salamander Books, London, 1988. ISBN: 051756954X. By far the best account of the Soviet manned program, though now out of date due to the flood of revelations since Glasnost and the end of the cold war. More at amazon.com...

• Oberg, James, Red Star in Orbit, Random House, New York, 1981. ISBN: 0394514297. Oberg's book was, at its time, the most accurate, and still the most lively account of the Soviet manned program. More at amazon.com...

• Smolders, Peter,, Soviets in Space, Taplinger Press, New York, 1974. The best account until the 1980's of the Soviet manned program.

• 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...

• Pirard, Theo, Spaceflight, "25 Years Ago...The Cosmonauts Missed the Moon!", 1994, Volume 35, page 411.

• Hendrickx, Bart, Spaceflight, "Soviet Lunar Dream that Faded", 1995, Volume 37, page 135.

• Vick, Charles, Spaceflight, "Korolev's Lunar Mission Profile", 1996, Volume 38, page 264. Accessed at: http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/96vol38_vick.htm.

• Vick, Charles, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, "THE MISHIN MISSION December 1962 - December 1993", 1994, Volume 47, page 357. Accessed at: http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/94vol47_vick.htm.

• Lebedev, D A, Spaceflight, "The N1-L3 Programme", 1992, Volume 34, page 288.