Twenty-five years ago on Friday, the Soviet Union flew the Buran reusable spacecraft, modeled on NASA’s Space Shuttle, into orbit for the first and last time.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankTwenty-five years ago on Friday, the Soviet Union flew the Buran reusable spacecraft, modeled on NASA’s Space Shuttle, into orbit for the first and last time.
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Twenty-five years ago on Friday, the Soviet Union flew the Buran reusable spacecraft, modeled on NASA’s Space Shuttle, into orbit for the first and last time.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander MokletsovThe Buran, named for the Russian word for snowstorm, became the first Soviet reusable spacecraft and took 10 years to develop.
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© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov
The Buran, named for the Russian word for snowstorm, became the first Soviet reusable spacecraft and took 10 years to develop.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankWhat Soviet specialists developed was not just a simple spacecraft, but an entire reusable system. This included the Energia super-heavy multi-role launch vehicle and the Buran orbiter, as well as elements of the ground launch-and-control infrastructure.
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What Soviet specialists developed was not just a simple spacecraft, but an entire reusable system. This included the Energia super-heavy multi-role launch vehicle and the Buran orbiter, as well as elements of the ground launch-and-control infrastructure.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander MokletsovThe Buran was designed to fly 100 manned and unmanned and automatic missions.
Photo: The Energia rocket-space system comprising a launch vehicle and the Buran reusable spacecraft.
Photo: The Energia rocket-space system comprising a launch vehicle and the Buran reusable spacecraft.
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© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov
The Buran was designed to fly 100 manned and unmanned and automatic missions.
Photo: The Energia rocket-space system comprising a launch vehicle and the Buran reusable spacecraft.
Photo: The Energia rocket-space system comprising a launch vehicle and the Buran reusable spacecraft.
© RIA Novosti . Igor Kostin / Go to the mediabankIt was difficult to transport the bulky Buran shuttle on the ground, so the entire craft was hoisted onto an Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft.
Photo: An Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft carrying the Buran reusable space shuttle.
Photo: An Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft carrying the Buran reusable space shuttle.
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It was difficult to transport the bulky Buran shuttle on the ground, so the entire craft was hoisted onto an Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft.
Photo: An Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft carrying the Buran reusable space shuttle.
Photo: An Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft carrying the Buran reusable space shuttle.
© RIA Novosti . Igor KostinThe Buran could carry as many as ten crew members, including four pilots and six cosmonaut-researchers.
Photo: An Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft with the Buran reusable space shuttle.
Photo: An Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft with the Buran reusable space shuttle.
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© RIA Novosti . Igor Kostin
The Buran could carry as many as ten crew members, including four pilots and six cosmonaut-researchers.
Photo: An Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft with the Buran reusable space shuttle.
Photo: An Antonov An-225 Cossack strategic airlift cargo aircraft with the Buran reusable space shuttle.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander MokletsovThe Buran flew only one, 205-minute space mission, circling Earth twice and landing at the Yubileiny airfield at the Baikonur cosmodrome.
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© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov
The Buran flew only one, 205-minute space mission, circling Earth twice and landing at the Yubileiny airfield at the Baikonur cosmodrome.
© RIA Novosti . Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabankThe Energia-Buran program was mothballed in 1990 and terminated completely in 1993.
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The Energia-Buran program was mothballed in 1990 and terminated completely in 1993.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir VyatkinIn all, three orbiters were built under the Energia-Buran program and construction of two more was launched. Nine full-size mock-ups were also built. Several mock-ups and orbiters survive to this day.
Photo: A Buran mock-up on display at the MAKS-1999 International Aerospace Salon in Zhukovsky, near Moscow.
Photo: A Buran mock-up on display at the MAKS-1999 International Aerospace Salon in Zhukovsky, near Moscow.
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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Vyatkin
In all, three orbiters were built under the Energia-Buran program and construction of two more was launched. Nine full-size mock-ups were also built. Several mock-ups and orbiters survive to this day.
Photo: A Buran mock-up on display at the MAKS-1999 International Aerospace Salon in Zhukovsky, near Moscow.
Photo: A Buran mock-up on display at the MAKS-1999 International Aerospace Salon in Zhukovsky, near Moscow.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander MokletsovThe Buran orbiter that flew in space was placed inside a vehicle assembly and testing building at the Baikonur cosmodrome. In 2002, the spacecraft was destroyed completely when the building’s roof caved in.
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© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov
The Buran orbiter that flew in space was placed inside a vehicle assembly and testing building at the Baikonur cosmodrome. In 2002, the spacecraft was destroyed completely when the building’s roof caved in.