/sci/ - Science & Math

>>15004258
If only N11 was selected as the Soviet heavy lifter instead of Proton…

In 1962, the USSR was taking bids for their upcoming heavy-lift, 20 ton to LEO, launcher.
The three teams that bid included Glushko’s Proton rocket, which of course ended up winning, alongside Yangel’s proposal, which sucked so bad we don’t even have to talk about it.
Korolev bid the N11, which consisted of the N1 rocket minus the big first stage. The second stage of the N1 would be converted into using the NK-15’s then planned for its first stage.
The N11 would’ve allowed further testing and proving of the NK-15 ahead of N1 flights, as well as validation for some of the plumbing and upper stage reliability.
I am not sure if this would’ve meant N1 would’ve been a success right off the bat, and I doubt it would’ve meant so far as the USSR beating America to the moon, but the N11 probably would’ve allowed for a Soviet lunar landing by ensuring a sooner successful N1 launch.
Of course; Korolev’s N11 would lose the design competition to Glushko’s Proton, and the rest is history.