The
N1 (
Russian:
Н1, from
Носитель,
Nossitel, carrier) was a heavy lift rocket
launch vehicle intended to deliver payloads beyond
low Earth orbit, acting as the Soviet counterpart to the US
Saturn V. It was designed with crewed extra-orbital travel in mind. Development work started on the N1 in 1959. Its first stage is the most powerful
rocket stage ever built.