What remains of the buran space program

[L91 EON]

Dont know if this is a repost but so very cool pictures.

http://www.themysteryworld.com/2010/12/abandoned-r...

enjoy

[Streps]

I've always found the soviet program interesting
Such a shame to see most of what is left looking abandoned though.

[Eric Mc]

The sole An 225 aircraft is the main legacy.

[bob1179]

The only 'flight ready' (I use the term loosely) Buran that existed was destroyed several years ago when the roof of the hanger it was kept in collapsed during maintenance. In fact, you can see the building with the collapsed roof in the pictures, this contained the only Buran that flew, plus boosters and main fuel tank.

It would have been a fantastic project had the Soviet Union not gone bankrupt and collapsed. Unfortunately, it is doubtful we'll ever see anything like it again.

[L91 EON]

Eric Mc said:

The sole An 225 aircraft is the main legacy.

and that was left for a long time before bringing it back into service.

[rolty]

Any ideas why the An-225 had the large nose cone extension for the Buran shuttle flights?

[thinfourth2]

rolty said:

Any ideas why the An-225 had the large nose cone extension for the Buran shuttle flights?

American spy ballons?

[Taffer]

Most probably an air data probe, so they could collect data in (relatively) undisturbed air ahead of the aircraft. Quite a common sight on prototype/test aircraft.

[bob1179]

Streps said:

I've always found the soviet program interesting
Such a shame to see most of what is left looking abandoned though.

The aircraft that is carrying the partly built Russian shuttle is a Myasishchev VM-T. I saw one at the Zhukovsky MAKS show a couple of years ago. It is a very odd looking aircraft sat on the ground though very impressive.

[Streps]

Fantastic
I believe one of it's purposes were to carry the huge fuel tanks of the Energia rockets.

Edited by Streps on Wednesday 19th January 15:49

[rhinochopig]

Streps said:

Fantastic
I believe it's purposes were to carry the huge fuel tanks of the Energia rockets.

Designed by Jerry Anderson?

[Hooli]

rhinochopig said:

Streps said:

Fantastic
I believe it's purposes were to carry the huge fuel tanks of the Energia rockets.

Designed by Jerry Anderson?

It should have been! looks insane yet perfect for the job

[JW911]

Eric Mc said:

The sole An 225 aircraft is the main legacy.

There is a second one but it's in need of a bit more work.

Edited by JW911 on Wednesday 19th January 18:21

[chris390]

Booster also used for a laser space weapon - never went into service.

[Nevin]

One of the prototype mock-ups of Buran now sits in Gorky Park (or Culture Park as its now known) in Moscow, directly across the river from my old flat. Was always quite cool looking out of the window at it every day.

[SVX]

I often wonder what would have happened if the USSR hadn't have collapsed and the Buran programme had continued. Would our American cousins have followed suit? How far along would SSTO space planes be?

[L91 EON]

JW911 said:

Eric Mc said:

The sole An 225 aircraft is the main legacy.

There is a second one but it's in need of a bit more work.

Edited by JW911 on Wednesday 19th January 18:21

On the floor beside the front door for the plane looks to be the probe seen in the picture with the shuttle on its back?

Is there any plans to finish it?

Edited by L91 EON on Wednesday 19th January 23:52

[Chilli]

bob1179 said:

Streps said:

I've always found the soviet program interesting
Such a shame to see most of what is left looking abandoned though.

The aircraft that is carrying the partly built Russian shuttle is a Myasishchev VM-T. I saw one at the Zhukovsky MAKS show a couple of years ago. It is a very odd looking aircraft sat on the ground though very impressive.

I didn't know you were into your planes Bobski. All types or just the Russian types?

[bob1179]

Chilli said:

bob1179 said:

Streps said:

I've always found the soviet program interesting
Such a shame to see most of what is left looking abandoned though.

The aircraft that is carrying the partly built Russian shuttle is a Myasishchev VM-T. I saw one at the Zhukovsky MAKS show a couple of years ago. It is a very odd looking aircraft sat on the ground though very impressive.

I didn't know you were into your planes Bobski. All types or just the Russian types?

I'm a real plane geek! I love anything that flies, I actually wanted to be a pilot for as long as I can remember but somehow ended up building things instead.

[ralphrj]

More photos (or possibly the same photos, the original link is dead) on the Daily Mail website today.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-311...