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Lunar program guide:

Program chronology

Chronology of the Moon Race

N1

L3

N1/Block G

N1/Block D

LK/Block E

LOK/Block I

N1 launch facilities

Soviet plans for lunar base

As Soviet Union mastered manned space flight in a series of early orbital missions, the Moon quickly became a key goal of the manned space program. In May 1961, President Kennedy proclaimed a manned landing on the surface of the Moon before 1970, as the main goal of the US space program.

However, it took more than three years after Kennedy's challenge for the cash-strapped Soviet government to commit needed resources for the Moon Race. "Do not leave the Moon to the Americans," Nikita Khrushchev reportedly told leaders of the Soviet rocket industry, "Anything you need in order to do it, will be provided." On Aug. 3, 1964, the Soviet government finally gave full go ahead to the lunar landing effort.

However, the development of a heavy-lift launcher, needed for the lunar expedition, was plagued with political and technical problems. Charismatic captains of the Soviet rocket industry fought for the leadership and influence in the program, stretching the project's already limited resources, while the Soviet military, which financed rocket development, had always remained skeptical about the prospects of heavy-lift launchers.

The fall of Khrushchev in 1964, further delayed the program, which continued suffering from the lack of funds and resources. In 1966, the Soviet lunar program recieved another blow with the death of its legendary leader, Sergei Korolev.

The giant moon rocket had not reached the launch pad until 1969, and its first and three subsequent launches ended in catastrophic failures, revealing serious technical flaws in the design of the booster. The program was finally abandoned in 1974 and its leader Vasily Mishin was ousted as a head of the industrial conglomerate responsible for the project.

Soviet launches related to the manned lunar program:

PICTURE GALLERY

Scale model of the launch complex for the Proton rocket with the L1 spacecraft in Baikonur. Copyright © 2002 Anatoly Zak

The Proton rocket with the L1 spacecraft for the circumlunar mission is poised for launch in Baikonur.

Scale model of the UR-700 launcher, which Vladimir Chelomei proposed as an alternative to Korolev's N1 rocket. Copyright © 2001 by Anatoly Zak

The N1/L3 complex during the assembly in Area 112 in Baikonur.

The N1 moon rocket leaves the assembly building at Site 112 in Baikonur.

Two N1 moon rockets during testing on the launch pads at Site 110 in Baikonur.