N1 that works!

[jimglenn]

Better have a high speed link, lots of pics.<br /><br />http://www.polecataerospace.com/1_16_scale_soviet_n1.htm <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacefire]

really cool! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[barrykirk]

I would have really liked to see that one go.

 

[jimglenn]

I think that is the biggest model N1 so far. There was a smaller one.<br /><br />Clustering used to be hard in the old days, but with composite motors and electric matches, and some good old pyrogen (in liquid form these days, can paint on things - newer motors have a thin coating in the core)<br /><br />today it's a snap. If you are interested in flying, try to find a local club or Tripoli group. Can get certified all the way up to Level 3 and fly essentially a Sidewinder missile (gasp).<br /><br />http://www.rocketryonline.com/<br /><br />(a top site for rocketeeers) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[7419]

Well it worked better than the 1/1 scale ones did!

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Here's the N1 in action. 35 storeys high, ouch!<br /><br />http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=397&posts=8

 

[davf]

WOW! That is absolutely awesome! It's a shame they don't feel they can fly again. Nice babe helping them too.... all these big, older, bald guys and a cute babe: must be the power of the rocket at work. ;-)<br /><br />It's a shame they don't have any video online of the launch.

 

[spacefire]

<font color="yellow">must be the power of the rocket at work</font><br /><br />well, it is long, thick, and it rose to the occasion <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[jimglenn]

Thanks, have to check that at work, on slow dialup at home today.<br /><br />I do remember there was a russian guy who could make bigger rocket engines, but he was not on speaking terms with the N1 program manager! So they wound up with that kludge of smaller engines.<br /><br />The control system did not have enough authority to counter the extreme roll cause by plume turbulence. It just broke apart, or they blew them up. <br /><br />Just imagine the nightmare of plumbing and wiring to all those engines? WHAT A MESS. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[tap_sa]

Each N-1 stage has two spherical tanks hidden inside a conical airframe. The protruding boxes cover the plumbing from upper tank (IIRC kerosene) to the engines.

 

[mikejz]

Next project sounds intresting:<br /><br />"Next year, Space Ship one and the White Knight. The White Knight will be turbine powered with a 20' wingspan, and the Space Ship one will use a Cesaroni M motor. Stay tuned for that project!"

 

[jimglenn]

Yes, that was it.<br /><br />http://www.space.edu/projects/book/chapter20.html<br /><br />A feud developed between Korolev and Glushko about what type of fuel to use for the N-1 vehicle. Glushko wanted to employ hypergolic fuel while Korolev wanted either kerosene/ liquid oxygen (LOX) or liquid hydrogen (LH2) and LOX. The advantages for hypergolic fuel included lighter engines and propellant storage tanks while the main disadvantage was launch pad safety in the event of fuel leaks. Korolev demanded the LOX and hydrocarbon mixture and Glushko resigned himself from the N-1 program. This set back the N-1 and also led to the loss of powerful political support in the government for Korolev. Korolev sought help from an experienced aircraft engine designer, Nikolai D. Kuznetsov. Because of Kuznetsov's inexperience in designing rocket engines, the N-1 contained simple LOX and kerosene engines for all three stages; a second decision was made to include a number of small engines rather than two or three larger and more powerful ones in the various stages. <br /><br />THIS IS INTERESTING TOO.<br /><br />Compared to the highly technical and sophisticated US space program, the Soviet program was simple. Korolev's technicians used simple materials such as stainless steel instead of aluminum and titanium to build their space ships. This increased weight meant that Glushko had to design more powerful rockets. These rockets were also simple. Rather than use highly exotic fuels, the Soviets chose to use simple kerosene and liquid oxygen (LOX). Instead of building large rocket engines, Glushko built smaller, simpler ones and Korolev used many of these simple engines in several engine pods rather than design a large complicated engine like in the American vehicles. <br /><br />A major reason for the simple designs of rocket ships was the technical skill of the people who were to launch these large, complicated machines <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[publiusr]

Pretty!

 

[mattblack]

My N-1 article I wrote for a magazine several years ago:<br /> />>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br /><br />N-1: This was the then-Soviet Union’s lunar booster, a 30-engine monster with an unfortunate record of total failure. N-1 was the brainchild of Sergei Korolev and Nikolei Kuznetsov; the designer of the NK-33 LOX/kerosene-fuelled engine. Lacking the funding of the United States, the NK-33 was the Soviet Union’s most powerful engine at that time, producing 340,000 pounds (154,000 kg) of thrust versus America’s 1.6 million pound (725,000 kg) F1. As a result, the N-1 needed thirty NK-33s in its first stage to produce the required power. The N-1 produced an almost surreal 10 million pounds (4.53 million-kg) thrust. Because it lacked hydrogen-fuelled upper stages (like the Saturn V’s S2 and S4B), its’ LEO payload was a mere 75 tonnes and the Earth escape performance was significantly less than the Saturn V. Something like 20 tonnes versus the Saturn’s 45 tonnes.<br /><br />This meant the Soviet lunar lander design was only a one-man job, capable of staying on the lunar surface just a few hours versus the Apollo LM’s ability to stay for up to three days with a crew of two. The N-1 had its first test flight on February 21st, 1969, with a reportedly spectacular liftoff. This is the closest the world would ever get to a Nova-type booster. But 66 seconds into the flight when the engines throttled back up to ease dynamic loads, the engines came back too abruptly. A liquid oxygen line ruptured and started a fire. The KORD engine control system malfunctioned and instead of shutting down the offending engine, it over-reacted and shut off all thirty. The wreckage of the first mighty N-1 fell some 45 kilometers downrange.<br /><br />In July 3rd, 1969 the second N-1 tried again. This booster only made it a couple hundred meters into the air before a metal shard entered one of the Liquid Oxygen turbopumps and <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>