So we've discussed the Soviet N-1 moon rocket before, but usually those discussions have focused on the rocket succeeding in the 60s, allowing the Soviets to either win the moon race or at least score a close second... What I'd like to do here, is ignore the 60s, and focus on the results of the N-1 becoming a successful rocket well after the US has decisively won the moon race.
As a possible PoD, let's say the 4th attempted launch on November 23 1972 is successful due to ground control separating the malfunctioning first stage early, meaning the upper stages are still on the way to orbit when the first stage explodes 107 seconds into launch.
Let's say this success is enough that the Soviets continue serious testing of the N-1, but not great enough to save the Soviet Lunar program. By 1975, let's suppose that the Soviets have a working Saturn V class rocket, but no program to use the rocket in.
What happens next?
Given how close the N-1 came to becoming the launcher for the Soviet space shuttle OTL, I would guess that Glushko, if he still gains overall control of the Space Programs of the SU, would be forced to use the rocket TTL as his shuttle launcher.
Given that the Soviets were, at the time, looking into making their smaller boosters more efficient and economical at this time, I would suspect that the smaller versions of the N-1, the N-11 and N-111, would have a chance to replace the Proton and R-7 rockets as well (OTL, what became Zenit was supposed to replace these two, though it became something in between an R-7 and a Proton in the end). Particularly if they could be automated to a similar degree to the Zenits.
I suspect that Glushko would seek to "upgrade" the N-1 with his own engines if he is forced to use it. The rocket getting RD-170 engines in the mid-80s could help with reliability simply due to reducing the engine count. I'm not sure if the RD-170 would have any other advantage over the NK-33 though...
I suspect that the American lead in H2/LOX propulsion would lead to the politburo insisting that the Soviet Space Program get into using liquid hydrogen themselves, just as OTL. That might result in the N-1 gaining some hydrogen upper stages.
Also, what might the Soviets do in the 70s and 80s if they're not spending pretty much their whole space budget on building a rocket for their shuttle? More probes? More interesting manned activity in space?
And what do the Soviets do if they have an Energia-class launcher (actually, the N-1 was supposed to have been more powerful than Energia) 13 years earlier than OTL?
fasquardon
As a possible PoD, let's say the 4th attempted launch on November 23 1972 is successful due to ground control separating the malfunctioning first stage early, meaning the upper stages are still on the way to orbit when the first stage explodes 107 seconds into launch.
Let's say this success is enough that the Soviets continue serious testing of the N-1, but not great enough to save the Soviet Lunar program. By 1975, let's suppose that the Soviets have a working Saturn V class rocket, but no program to use the rocket in.
What happens next?
Given how close the N-1 came to becoming the launcher for the Soviet space shuttle OTL, I would guess that Glushko, if he still gains overall control of the Space Programs of the SU, would be forced to use the rocket TTL as his shuttle launcher.
Given that the Soviets were, at the time, looking into making their smaller boosters more efficient and economical at this time, I would suspect that the smaller versions of the N-1, the N-11 and N-111, would have a chance to replace the Proton and R-7 rockets as well (OTL, what became Zenit was supposed to replace these two, though it became something in between an R-7 and a Proton in the end). Particularly if they could be automated to a similar degree to the Zenits.
I suspect that Glushko would seek to "upgrade" the N-1 with his own engines if he is forced to use it. The rocket getting RD-170 engines in the mid-80s could help with reliability simply due to reducing the engine count. I'm not sure if the RD-170 would have any other advantage over the NK-33 though...
I suspect that the American lead in H2/LOX propulsion would lead to the politburo insisting that the Soviet Space Program get into using liquid hydrogen themselves, just as OTL. That might result in the N-1 gaining some hydrogen upper stages.
Also, what might the Soviets do in the 70s and 80s if they're not spending pretty much their whole space budget on building a rocket for their shuttle? More probes? More interesting manned activity in space?
And what do the Soviets do if they have an Energia-class launcher (actually, the N-1 was supposed to have been more powerful than Energia) 13 years earlier than OTL?
fasquardon