Re-usability is certainly nice, but "how" is the big question you run right back when you just completely assume it. There's a lot of ways to do it, many feasible at least for lower stages in the 60s and 70s, but it's another modification beyond the base N1.
Yes, for sure.
There's a few different ways to upgrade a rocket, but N-1 is limited on most of the standard ones. Stretching has already been discussed, and without that simple thrust improvements only offer gravity loss reduction instead of allowing a higher gross liftoff mass. Adding strap-on boosters is the second, and N-1's geometry makes that a little complex, as does its horizontal processing. The third big one is improved stages substituting into an existing vehicle, like Titan replacing Transtage with Centaur. The different diameters of the front and end of every stage on the N1 adds complexity to designing new stages to fit into the stack, and again the horizontal processing strikes. A fourth big one is cost reductions, like the reduced complexity of the J-2S compared to J-2--a change which eliminated a variety of subsidiary systems on the launcher--or changing production processes to minimize cost. N-1's launch site assembly meant it was going to be a bit of a pain to assemble no matter what, and the 30 engines leaves only so much room to improve and remove complexity without dramatic overhaul of the thrust structures.
In short, the N-1 really is a lot harder to uprate than the Saturn V.
That is very interesting...
What is the disadvantage of horizontal processing? Every time I've read about it before, it has been held up as being superior to the vertical processing the Americans tend to use. Were those opinions out of touch with reality in your view?
fasquardon