HISTORICAL CONTEXT (1966–1969): Unlike NASA’s unified command under Apollo (~4% GNP peak), the Soviet lunar bid was crippled by fierce rivalry between OKB-1 (Korolev/Mishin), OKB-456 (Glushko refused cryogenic kerolox engines), and OKB-52 (Chelomey's competing UR-500/700). Following Korolev's premature death in January 1966, political authority dissolved, funding for a full Baikonur static test stand was denied, and the maiden N1-3L rocket launched with an untested 30-engine cluster controlled by the primitive KORD computer system.