OS-1 Space Station Credit - © Mark Wade

Following a meeting between Khrushchev and chief designers at Pitsunda, Khrushchev ordered the start of a project to put a 75 metric ton manned platform with nuclear weapons into low earth orbit (dubbed elsewhere as 'Battlestar Khrushchev'). Korolev was authorized to proceed immediately to upgrade the three stage N vehicle to a maximum 75 metric ton payload in order to launch the station. Work on the OS-1 began on 25 September 1962. By 1965 the mockup of the huge station had been completed.

This drawing shows the original OS-1 configuration according to the studies of American analyst Charles Vick.

Crew Size: 6. Length: 25.00 m (82.00 ft). Maximum Diameter: 6.00 m (19.60 ft). Habitable Volume: 510.00 m3. Mass: 75,000 kg (165,000 lb). Electrical System: 6 solar panels totalling 110 sq m. Associated Launch Vehicle: N1.

• 1962 September 25 - N1 launch vehicle upgraded to accomodate OS-1 75 tonne manned platform with nuclear weapons. - Launch Vehicle: N1.

  Work on the OS-1 began following a meeting between Khrushchev and chief designers at Pitsunda. Korolev was authorized to proceed immediately to upgrade the three stage N vehicle to a maximum 75 tonne payload in order to launch the station. By 1965 the mockup of the huge station had been completed.

• 1963 April 28 - N1 Plans - Launch Vehicle: N1 1964.

  An Inter-Institution Soviet considers Korolev's N1 plans. He believes the first booster will be launched in 1965. The N1 is to have a payload capability of 75 tonnes to a 250 km altitude orbit, 50 tonnes to a 3000 km altitude orbit, and 16 tonnes in geostationary orbit. It could launch spacecraft capable of landing men on the moon and returning them to earth, or manned flybys of Mars or Venus. Three to ten launches would be needed for such missions, with the components being docked together in low earth orbit. The N1 can also be used to launch a large space station for military research. After the N1 discussion a decision is made that cosmonauts will not have to spend more than three to four days in a spacecraft mock-up on the ground to prove their readiness for flight. A simulation of the entire flight duration is not necessary.

• Kamanin, N P, Skritiy kosmos, Infortext, Moscow, 1995. The diary of the Commander of the Soviet Cosmonaut Team in the 1960's - a source of great insights into the space program. Four volumes issued to date.

• Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994. ISBN: 1896522815. Dual English/Russian language picture book of the history of the Energia Corporation. Many unique photos and drawings of Korolev's rockets and spacecraft. Republished by Apogee books in 2000. More at amazon.com...

• Vick, Charles, Spaceflight, "Soviet Orbital Station-1 Designed in 1965", 1994, Volume 36, page 282.