N1 - Vehicle use: Planned Russian crewed lunar missions
Russian orbital launch vehicle. The N1 was the launch vehicle for the planned Russian crewed lunar missions and produced by the design bureau that is now known as Energia. The N1 was comprised of a first stage with 30 NK-15 engines using RP-1 and LOX, an eight-engine second stage using RP-1 and LOX, a four-engine third stage using RP-1 and LOX, and a single-engine fourth stage using RP-1 and LOX.
Source: www.khrunichev.ru
Variant
N1
Launches
4
Failures
4
Realized
0.00
Predicted
0.17
50
51
53
52
55
56
54
57
58
59
60
61
62
64
63
65
67
66
69
68
71
72
70
73
74
75
76
79
77
78
81
80
83
82
85
84
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
95
94
96
97
99
98
01
00
02
03
04
05
06
07
09
08
11
10
13
12
15
14
17
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
2/21/1969 - N1
FIRE IN FIRST STAGE
Launch attempt of Zond L1S-1
A few seconds into launch, a transient voltage caused the engine controller (KORD) to shut down engine #12. After this happened, the engine controller shut off engine #24 to maintain symmetrical thrust. At T+6 seconds, pogo oscillation in engine #2 tore several components off their mounts and started a propellant leak. At T+25 seconds, further vibrations ruptured a fuel line and caused RP-1 to spill into the aft section of the booster. When the RP-1 came into contact with the leaking gas, a fire started. The fire burned through wiring in the power supply causing electrical arcing, which was picked up by sensors and interpreted by the engine controller as a pressurization problem in the turbopumps.
SOURCES:
Russian Space Web PDF - N1 No. 3L launch
7/3/1969 - N1
FIRE IN FIRST STAGE
Launch attempt of Zond L1S-2
Just before liftoff, the LOX turbopump in engine #8 exploded (the pump was recovered from the debris and had signs of fire and melting). The shock wave severed the surrounding propellant lines and started a fire from leaking fuel. The fire damaged various components in the thrust section [41] leading to the engines gradually being shut down between T+10 and T+12 seconds. The engine controller (KORD) had shut off engines #7, #19, #20, and #21 after detecting abnormal pressure and pump speeds.
SOURCES:
Russian Space Web PDF - The second launch of the N1 rocket
6/26/1971 - N1
LOSS OF CONTROL
Launch attempt of Soyuz 7K-L1E No.1
Shortly after liftoff the N1 experienced an uncontrolled roll due to unexpected eddies and counter-currents at the base of the first stage, which were beyond what the flight control system could compensate for. The engine controller sensed a problem and sent a shutoff command to the first stage, but previous changes to the controller software prevented the execution of the command prior to T+50 seconds. As the flight progressed, the severity of the roll increased, and at approximately T+50 seconds, while passing through Max-Q, the vehicle began to break up and was subsequently destroyed by range safety.
SOURCES:
Encyclopedia Astronautica PDF - Details 5171
11/23/1972 - N1
PROPELLANT LINE RUPTURE IN FIRST STAGE
Launch attempt of Soyuz 7K-LOK No.1
At T+90 seconds, a programmed shutdown of the core propulsion system (the six center engines) was performed to reduce structural loads on the booster. When the six engines shut down, a hydraulic shock wave was created, causing excessive loads on the lines for feeding fuel and oxidizer to the core propulsion system. This caused the lines to rupture, causing a fire in the booster’s boattail. In addition to the fire, engine #4 exploded. At T+107 seconds the first stage suffered a structural failure, and all telemetry from the vehicle was lost at T+110.
SOURCES:
Encyclopedia Astronautica PDF - Details 5172
0.00
0.17
0.00
0.25
0.00
0.25
0.00
0.20
Realized Rate
Predicted Rate