Country of Origin: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Overall: 1 ft. 1 in. wide x 7 ft. 2 1/2 in. tall (33 x 219.7cm)
This model is a 1:48 scale model of the launch vehicle that the Soviet Union built in its failed attempt to send a human to the Moon. The N-1 represents the key piece of hardware required in the project. It had to be powerful enough to send a human being, all the life support and fuel necessary to the Moon and to provide for their return. The rocket is green, white & gray, has a lattice ring around first stage and top of second stage. At the base of the first stage are the thirty main nozzles that provided the initial thrust that would have lifted the rocket and its payload into Earth orbit. The Soviets attempted four launches of the N-1 during the years 1969-1972. Each attempt failed and the program was cancelled in 1974.
This model is of the first N-1 that was launched. David Gianakos, a model builder from Colorado, built this N-1 for the National Air and Space Museum's "Space Race" exhibit to complement to same-scale model of the American Saturn V.
Gift of David P. Gianokos