N1M - Sr

The N1M was to be the first Soviet launch vehicle to use liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen high energy cyrogenic propellants. As originally conceived, the advanced propellants would be used in all upper stages. However this more ambitious work was revised. The first proposed launch vehicle to use such stages would by the N1F, which would have only used the Block S and Block R fourth and fifth stages in place of the N1's Block G and Block D.

Manufacturer: Korolev. Liftoff Thrust: 43,295.500 kN (9,733,216 lbf). Total Mass: 2,773,000 kg (6,113,000 lb). Core Diameter: 10.00 m (32.00 ft). Total Length: 104.00 m (341.00 ft).

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: N1F Block A. Gross Mass: 2,070,000 kg (4,560,000 lb). Empty Mass: 126,230 kg (278,280 lb). Thrust (vac): 49,675.500 kN (11,167,497 lbf). Isp: 331 sec. Burn time: 125 sec. Isp(sl): 297 sec. Diameter: 10.00 m (32.00 ft). Span: 15.60 m (51.10 ft). Length: 30.00 m (98.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 30. Engine: NK-33. Status: Development ended 1971. Includes 14,000 kg for Stage 1-2 interstage.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: N1F Block B. Gross Mass: 620,000 kg (1,360,000 lb). Empty Mass: 55,700 kg (122,700 lb). Thrust (vac): 14,040.004 kN (3,156,318 lbf). Isp: 346 sec. Burn time: 120 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-43. Status: Development ended 1971. Includes 3,500 kg for Stage 2-3 interstage.

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x Stage: N1F Block V. Gross Mass: 210,000 kg (460,000 lb). Empty Mass: 13,700 kg (30,200 lb). Thrust (vac): 1,608.000 kN (361,492 lbf). Isp: 353 sec. Burn time: 370 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-39. Status: Development ended 1971.

• Stage Number: 4. 1 x Stage: N1 Block S. Gross Mass: 58,000 kg (127,000 lb). Empty Mass: 8,000 kg (17,600 lb). Thrust (vac): 392.000 kN (88,125 lbf). Isp: 440 sec. Burn time: 540 sec. Diameter: 6.70 m (21.90 ft). Span: 6.70 m (21.90 ft). Length: 16.00 m (52.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-57. Status: Development ended 1971. Designed 1965-1971 as replacement for N-1 Blok G. Cancelled in 1971 in favor of development of single stage, Block Sr.

• Stage Number: 5. 1 x Stage: N1 Block R. Gross Mass: 23,000 kg (50,000 lb). Empty Mass: 4,300 kg (9,400 lb). Thrust (vac): 73.500 kN (16,523 lbf). Isp: 440 sec. Burn time: 1,080 sec. Diameter: 4.10 m (13.40 ft). Span: 4.10 m (13.40 ft). Length: 8.70 m (28.50 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-56. Status: Development ended 1971. Designed 1965-1971 as replacement for N-1 Blok D. Cancelled 1971 in favor of Blok Sr; revived and developed in 1974-1976. First static test Oct 12 1976. Two stages tested 1976-1977. Strangely never replaced Blok D on Proton.

1973 January 1 - Launch Vehicle: N1F-L3M.

• N1-L3M Nation: USSR. Program: Lunar L3. Spacecraft: L3M-1972. The first lunar expedition project, the N1-L3M, was studied in 1973. References: 367.

• N1 cancellation imminent Nation: USSR. Program: Lunar L3. Spacecraft: LK, Soyuz 7K-LOK, MKBS, Mars 5NM, L3M-1972. Ustinov achieved a leadership consensus to kill the N1 by the beginning of May 1974. He achieved the agreement of the other Ministers on the Military-Industrial Commission, and finally Keldysh. Projects that were ongoing that were linked with the N1 included: the lunar base, MKBS space station, Mars robotic soil return spacecraft and manned expedition, a space radio telescope with a 100 m antenna, and multiple channel communications satellites. All of these died with the cancellation. If 8L had been successful, then after 1 or 2 further test launches, the N1-L3M could begin flying. That meant that the Soviet Union was within 3 to 4 years of establishing long-term lunar expeditions and a moon base. The Americans would have been leapfrogged. Instead, the leadership decided to develop a completely new heavy-lift launch vehicle, which never became operational before the Soviet Union collapsed.References: 367.

• 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...