Lost in Space

Originally posted by zorgon
Soviet N1 Lunar Rocket

N1 payload to LEO:
75,000 kg (165,000 lb)
Saturn V payload to LEO:
118,000 kg (260,000 lb)

Even the Saturn V couldn't put a manned craft on an interstellar trajectory, the N1 was significantly LESS capable of doing so. Furthermore, the N1 never even had a successful launch and had a far more powerful version been launched successfully at the early date reported in the story they would have had more than enough time to perfect the design and beat the US to the moon handily.

And it seems NASA is contracting with Russia on 'other projects'

Not that I know what the specs of that booster are, but regardless such a thing was definately not around in the 60s.

[edit on 26-5-2009 by ngchunter]