USSR. The plan is to put three cosmonauts on the Moon for a full month! A first N-1 would place a descent stage in lunar orbit. A second N-1 would place a return spacecraft and lunar lander, which, combined with the descent stage, would descend to the Moon (without any CMs in orbit). The plan is to build the first lunar base. The military is even considering using it as the first extraterrestrial outpost. The N-1-F is modified with a KVD-1 hydrogen upper stage, the first Soviet one of its kind (revealed after 1991). The KVD-1 must brake for lunar orbit. It was designed by Alexei Isayev of OKB-2 KM KhimMach. The LK would have had a monopropellant hydrogen peroxide engine (RD-150) designed by Glushko’s OKB-486. The launch took place on November 23, 1972, with a dummy LK and a LOK. At 90 seconds, an engine exploded, and the LOK was ejected, saving any crew. This time, digital data helped. Six new N-1s were ordered.
