N-IIGR - 1962

This 1962 project was designed by Korolev's OKB as a competitor to Chelomei's UR-500 against the military GR-2 (Global Rocket 2) requirement. The N-11GR was an adaptation of the basic N-11, derived from the second and third stages of the N1 heavy booster. The GR-2 was to be a kind of enormous multiple-warhead FOBS (fractional orbit bombing system). Surrounding the top of the second stage of the rocket, like bullets in an enormous revolver, were six final stages derived from the 8K713 GR-1 last stage. Each stage had a 1,500 kg nuclear warhead.

The stages would separate from the main vehicle, and make violent maneuvers using independent guidance systems to put each warhead in a different low 160 km altitude orbit. At the end of 10,000 to 12,000 km journey along their separate orbital paths, the warheads would appear on US radar screens at the last moment with minimal warning. The total spread of the warheads would be 1800 km from left to right; two such missiles could devastate America's major cities from coast to coast. Chelomei's UR-500 instead was selected for the mission (and in turn never put into operation as a weapon).

Manufacturer: Korolev. Payload: 9,000 kg (19,800 lb). to a: 6 x 1500 kg warheads, 160 km orbits, 1800 km apart trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 10,610.000 kN (2,385,220 lbf). Total Mass: 753,000 kg (1,660,000 lb). Core Diameter: 9.80 m (32.10 ft). Total Length: 40.00 m (131.00 ft).

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: N-11 Block A. Gross Mass: 485,000 kg (1,069,000 lb). Empty Mass: 47,000 kg (103,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 11,960.000 kN (2,688,710 lbf). Isp: 330 sec. Burn time: 117 sec. Isp(sl): 293 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 1963. Derived from N1 Block B, with large number of engines and expansion ratio adjusted for sea level operation. Includes 3500 kg Stage 2-Stage 3 interstage.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: N-11 Block B. Gross Mass: 192,000 kg (423,000 lb). Empty Mass: 18,000 kg (39,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,560.000 kN (350,700 lbf). Isp: 347 sec. Burn time: 372 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: 8. Engine: NK-19. Status: Study 1963. Derived from N1 Block V.

• Stage Number: 3. 6 x Stage: N-11GR - V. Gross Mass: 8,200 kg (18,000 lb). Empty Mass: 1,700 kg (3,700 lb). Thrust (vac): 88.200 kN (19,828 lbf). Isp: 346 sec. Burn time: 246 sec. Diameter: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Span: 2.40 m (7.80 ft). Length: 5.00 m (16.40 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: 8D726. Status: Study 1962. Orbital MIRV stage. Six of these stages clustered around Block B; each stage would have had a 1500 kg nuclear warhead.

1962 During the Year - Launch Vehicle: N-11GR, Proton 8K82, R-56.

• GR-2 (Global Rocket 2) requirement. Nation: USSR. The GR-2 was to be a kind of enormous multiple-warhead FOBS (fractional orbit bombing system). Competitors included Korolev's N-11GR; Chelomei's UR-500; and Yangel's R-56

• Vetrov, G S, S. P. Korolev i evo delo, Nauka, Moscow, 1998. ISBN: 5020036846. The collected papers of Soviet Chief Designer Korolev. A tremendous source of new information and insight on the Soviet space program. Russian language. More at amazon.com...