Re: Depressing
Interesting design but it was never what one would call reliable. I doubt that this engine would ever qualify for "man rated" as there were too many failure points in the design and manufacture and no one seems to want to spend the money to sort it out. If the Russians couldn't get to work way back when with seemingly unlimited cash and people, what makes anyone think that they can under severe budget restraints.
For some good documentaries, Google: russian rocket engine n1 site:youtube.com