N1 moon rocket Test - launch abort system activated

N1-5L was the second n1 rocket launch test. failed after 25 seconds of flight, destroyed launch pad, major explosion in the history of rockets

Launch: July 3, 1969

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• n1
• rocket
• n1-5l
• launch
• soviet
• baikonur
• moon
• race
• abort
• system
• activated

[TGAcodes]

this is very interesting. i think science has the reputation of only being concerned with the big picture, sometimes forsaking the smaller things in the process.

it is a huge gesture that a system was devised that undoubtedly cost millions extra, just to save the lives of a few. i think it shows that science does care for the individual and does recognize the value of a single human life.

in the end, science is by humanity, for humanity.

[drsheikhjunior]

Correction,17g's.I will kick my head next time.

[Emigdiosback]

@hwoods01 150 dollars to send a whale (or Tom Cruise) to the moon

[MightySaturn5]

@artwleb -well said.

[Alembic25]

The lunar loop mission was not the N1. The Zond craft was intended to be launched on a Proton rocket and carry 2 cosmonauts. They were attempting to get round the moon before Apollo but pulled the mission at the last minute when they had doubts about correctly nailing the earth approach on the return from the moon. Zond used a double bounce approach which was difficult to control, one unmanned test ended up in the indian ocean. Leonov and another experienced pilot would have been the crew.

[Alembic25]

The N1 was intended to carry the entire mission in one launch though it never carried the lander or LOK. Two N1's launched carried dummy Soyuz craft in the upper stages and these carried functioning escape systems which worked perfectly when the boosters failed. The last two launches were heavily redesigned but carried no Soyuz vehicles. N1 is rumoured to have had an auxiliary toroidal aerospike engine system using air diverted into the oxygen rich exhaust. An interesting design.

[rsynnott]

This N1 probably carried a working lunar excursion system, but the base plan for the N1 complex lunar excursion always involved launching the Soyuz capsule separately with a Soyuz rocket and docking with the excursion complex in orbit. Launching a crew _on_ an N1 was not considered as an immediate goal.

It's likely that the LES is there either to validate the design, or to save the excursion system; they were in a rush, and that version of N1 was known to be highly unreliable.

[PerikoctBlues1102]

5/5

awesome

[cladiax1]

cool

[artwleb]

All systems up test. Besides if you do have an abort you need to verify the design works. 3 unmanned Mercury orbit shots carried a LES. The Soviets would have had a better chance at success in flying around the moon in a Zond aboard a Proton.

[artwleb]

Mercury and Gemini were methodical programs for space travel and not space stunts such Vostok 5/6 and Voskhod 1. It was pretty obvious what the Soviets were doing but the media

didn't get it and so all that "factual" history is forever in print and now on YouTube.