UR-700

UR-700 Russian Moon Rocket was a competitor design to Korolev's N-1. The USA rocket to the moon competitor was the Saturn V. Unfortunately the UR-700 Moon Rocket was not built and the USA rocket to the moon, Saturn V Launch Vehicle won the Moon Race in the 1960's.

In the 1960's Vladimir Chelomei designed the UR-700. He was the leader of the Design Bureau OK-52.

About the Moon Rocket

The UR-700 was the largest of Chelomei's designs. These included the UR-100, UR-200, and UR-500 (Pronton). UR stands for Universal Rocket.

The UR-700 was to use Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4) and UDMH (Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine) in all stages of the moon rocket. These fuels were storable and toxic. In contrast the N-1 used only kerosene and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and the Saturn V used Kerosene and LOX in the first stage and Liquid Hydrogen and LOX in the 2nd and 3rd stages.

The first stage and parallel 2nd stage were to use the RD-270 rocket engine. Unfortunately Glusko did not finish development of the engine and the RD-253 was going to be replaced by 4 RD-253 rocket engines from the Proton Rocket.

The UR-700 design started in 1962, however, Korolev's N-1 was the preferred rocket. Korolev died in 1966 and Chelomei proposed to use his UR-700 again because the N-1 was having many developmental problems and was off schedule, however, it was rejected.

Who was Korolev?

Korolev was the leader of OKB-1. He was responsible for all of the Soviet Unions Space Firsts. His main competitor was Chelomei.

The UR-700 had a higher payload than Korolev's N-1, but the big question is what would of happend if it blew up.

Reference:

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/ur700.html

UR-700 - Rocket to the Moon Links:

Mwade's UR-700:
The UR-700 Project:

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