N1 Rocket facts
While investigating facts about N1 Rocket, I found out little known, but curios details like:
During the second launch of the Soviet N1 rocket (which was supposed to take the first cosmonaut to the Moon), a bolt got loose and was sucked into an oxygen pump, causing a seven kiloton explosion which devastated the launchpad. It is still one of the largest non nuclear explosion ever.
Russia's answer to the American moon landings was going to be a manned fly-by of Mars, but the mission was ultimately scrapped after their N1 rocket kept blowing up.
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 9 of the best facts about N1 Rocket I managed to collect.
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The USSR tried to make their own moon rocket called the N1-L3. When it failed and exploded for the second time, it created the most powerful non-nuclear man-made explosion to date
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The Soviets had an equivalent to the Saturn V rocket to get cosmonauts to the moon. But they never got the N1 into orbit. When one of them blew up on the launchpad, it created one of the largest man-made non-nuclear explosions in history.
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While the Soviets built their N1 rocket and launch four test flights in preparation for a moon mission, every single flight failed and the rockets were destroyed. After those failed launches, the entire program was scrapped due to cost concerns
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The largest artificial non-nuclear explosion has been caused by a Russian N1 rocket exploding on launch
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The N1 rocket, a Soviet made rocket which was to compete with the US Saturn V during the space race. During the second launch attempt, the N1 rocket crashed back onto its launch pad shortly after liftoff and exploded, resulting in the largest artificial non-nuclear explosion in human history.
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Russia is currently launching rockets using 50-year-old engines from the failed N1 moon rocket.