The N1 was the booster rocket for the Soviet manned moon program and was thus the direct counterpart of the Saturn V, the rocket that took American astronauts to the moon in 1969.
A full discussion of its attempted launches, disasters, and ultimate cancellation in 1974 completes this definitive history..
The complete history of this rarely known Soviet program is presented here, starting in 1959, along with detailed technical descriptions of the N1\'s design and development.
After the successful American landings on the moon, it was finally canceled without the N1 ever achieving orbit.
Massive technical and personnel difficulties, plus spectacular failures, repeatedly delayed the N1 program.
Though initially ahead of the US in the Space race, the Soviets lagged behind as the pace for being first on the moon accelerated.
Standing 345 feet tall, the N1 was the largest rocket ever built by the Soviets and was roughly the same height and weight as the Saturn.
The N1 was the booster rocket for the Soviet manned moon program and was thus the direct counterpart of the Saturn V, the rocket that took American astronauts to the moon in 1969
