What Happened To Russia’s Space Shuttle Program?
The Russian Shuttle Buran ("Snowstorm" in Russian) was authorized in 1976 in response to the United States Space Shuttle program. Construction of the shuttles began in 1980, with the first full-scale Aero-Buran rolling out in 1984. After only one test flight, the project was halted, although it was not officially canceled until 1993. It’s fascinating to see how — after dominating much of the space race in the 1960’s — the post-Communist Russia struggled to play "catch-up" with the Americans.
Wind tunnel studies of scale models of the orbiter
The full-size technological model of the orbiter (item 0.15, other designations
OK-MT, OK, ML2, 7M, 11F35MT)
used to refine launch operations
Tests of technological layout of OK-MT, on platform 254 (Baikonur
Cosmodrome)
The nose of the fuselage undergoing vibration tests
The cabin interior
Testing of air transportation on plane carrier VM-T Atlant, using
a full-size and -weight model of the shuttle
Transportation of ”Buran” (at the time of
this photograph, it was named ”Baikal”, which is shielded by the wing)
via road transport unit (TA) to launch-pad fire control tests
Buran (still showing its original name ”Baikal”),
in its enclosed maintenance facility
Joint testing of Buran and rocket booster îEnergiaî in
the assembly and test facility at Baikonur Cosmodrome
Reusable rocket-space system for the Energia-Buran vehicle at adjusting unit
Beginning of the reusable rocket-space system ”Energia-Buran" vehicle installation unit in the Launch Complex
The ”Energia-Buran" vehicle in the Launch Complex,
being raised to a vertical (launch) position.
The ”Energia-Buran" vehicle in full vertical launch
position.
Prelaunch preparations
One day before the first attempt to launch – October 28, 1988
The historic launch of Buran – Baikonur Cosmodrome, 15 November 1988, 06.00.00 DMW
The first seconds of flight!
Artist’s rendition of what would have been a subsequent
Buran mission: docking with the "Mir" orbital complex.
Buran lands on a runway at Baikonur, 15 November 1988.
Amazingly, only five heat-shielding tiles were lost during the flight.
"Buran” being mounted on an AN-225 ”Mriyaî
AN-225 ”Mriya” and ”Buran” during the first test flights at Baikonur,
prior to the flight at Le Bourget air show, May 1989.
AN-225 ”Mriya” with ”Buran” during the exhibition and demonstration flights at
Le Bourget
air show.
Frightening photos of the roof collapse at Baikonur
on 13 May 2002, which destroyed the Buran shuttle and Energia booster assembly
contained within.
The governmental commission investigating the causes of the collapse of the roof
reported determined the exact cause of the accident. However, by order of
committee chairman Ilya Klebanov,
that reason was kept secret. To this day, no one outside the Russian
govement knows what destroyed the shuttle.