Comment Re: Design flaw? (Score 1) 72
Unfortunately, when it comes to rockets, a couple percent difference in performance means a huge difference in the first stage.
The Russians make quite good early-stages for their rockets - but they've long had trouble with the upper stages. The N1 being the glaring exception, even the first stage was big trouble... they just couldn't handle the necessary level of QA for such a complex design to work, at least not on the budget they were given.