Russia’s failed lunar mission

One of the reasons for the Cold War between Russia and the United States in the 1960s was who would land the first man on the moon. At that time, Russia was at the forefront of all space missions. But Russia’s mission to land a man on the moon.

In 1962, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, announced in a speech in Texas that the United States would land a man on the moon in 10 years. But the world was watching the lunar mission closely with Russia, which had already established its dominance in space.

In 1966, Russia began building the super heavy rocket needed for the lunar mission. The name of this rocket was N1. In February 1969, the N1 rocket was ready for its first test flight. But a minute after launch, the N1 rocket completely crashed when it reached an altitude of about 30 km.

There were no casualties or damage to the launch pad. In 1969, the second N1 rocket, called the 5L, arrived at the launch pad ready for launch.

But within 10 seconds of launch, the rocket crashed. This time luck did not help Russia. The rocket launch pad was completely destroyed. Parts of the rocket were found up to six miles away, scattering to the windows of buildings about four miles from the launch pad.

After this 2 more launches were made but both of them were complete failures. In 1974, Russia decommissioned the N1 rocket. Russia was preparing Yuri Gagarin and Alexei Lenov for the lunar mission.

Landers, rovers and rocket thrusters made by Russia for the lunar mission are still in the Russian Museum. Russia had to suspend its lunar mission due to the lack of a good rocket.

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