#Baikonur Site 110/38

[lonestarflight]

The N-1 5L, the second vehicle, was launched on July 3, 1969 and carried a modified L1 Zond spacecraft and live escape tower. This rocket carried a Zond L1S-2 for Moon orbit and flyby and intended photography of possible crewed landing sites.

"The flight lasted only a few moments; as soon as it cleared the tower, there was a flash of light, and debris could be seen falling from the bottom of the first stage. All engines instantly shut down except engine #18. This caused the N-1 to lean over at a 45-degree angle and drop back onto the pad.[52] The nearly 2300 tons of propellant on board triggered a massive blast and shock wave that shattered windows across the launch complex and sent debris flying as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the center of the explosion.

The launch escape system had activated at the moment of engine shutdown (T+15 seconds) and pulled the L1S-2 capsule to safety 2.0 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. Impact with the pad occurred at T+23 seconds.

The destroyed complex was photographed by American satellites, disclosing that the Soviet Union was building a Moon rocket.

Launch Complex 110 East was thoroughly leveled by the blast, with the concrete pad caved in and one of the lighting towers knocked over and twisted around itself. This was one of the largest accidental artificial non-nuclear explosion in history."

Date: July 3, 1969

Video by the Hazegrayart: link

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