A unique spacecraft: 35 years since the first and last flight of the Soviet Buran

Exactly 35 years ago, the unique Soviet spacecraft Buran made its first and last flight.

The orbital rocket ship, built in the 80s of the last century, was an extremely complex apparatus and was very different from the launch vehicle of that time. This may seem incredible, but Buran was designed for 100 flights into space. Even modern SpaceX ships cannot boast of such “reusability”.

Based on the above, it is not surprising that more than 1000 Soviet organizations worked on the project. In total, 16 billion Soviet rubles were spent on the creation of this spacecraft.

The length of the ship was almost 36,5 meters, and the take-off weight was 105 tons, taking into account 30 tons of payload. At the same time, Buran could deliver 20 tons back, which theoretically would make it possible to send faulty space station modules to the ground, repair them and deliver them back.

In general, Buran was a response to the American Space Shuttle. Both ships were very similar in appearance, but the American spacecraft was launched into orbit using its engines, and the Soviet ship was launched using the Energia super-heavy rocket.

Work on the Buran lasted 15 years, and on November 15, 1988, its first and, unfortunately, last flight took place. During the mission, the rocket plane circled the Earth twice and landed at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, from where it took off. The spacecraft's flight and landing took place automatically, which was the first time in world astronautics.

In fact, “Buran” fully met the expectations placed on it and demonstrated to the whole world the genius of Soviet designers. Initially, it was planned to build five such “shuttles” that would make 10-12 flights per year. However, the development of a unique program took place during one of the most difficult times for our country, which predetermined the fate of the project.

There was no money found to further finance the program. In addition, the flight of an orbital spacecraft was tens of times more expensive than launching a Soyuz rocket, and therefore the project was considered unprofitable.

Comments

[sergey_taf]

He was proud of his country - the USSR!
Both then and now!
It’s a pity that there were those who pushed the union into the abyss...

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Yes, I remember how much joy there was when Buran took off.

[75 Sergey]

And even more, when he turned away from the runway before landing..... he slowed down the landing speed.

[pettabyte]

Quote from sergey_taf

It’s a pity that there were those who pushed the union into the abyss...

It must be admitted that there were those who did not protect him.
More precisely, with a few exceptions, there were no those who came to the defense.
This is the trouble.

[Vladimir80]

the American spacecraft was launched into orbit using its engines

Doubtfully

There was no money found to further finance the program.

Or maybe “friends” from overseas promised something? After the main work was done, the stupidest thing was to send everything to the landfill

[75 Sergey]

Well, there's a typo - using.

[dump22]

Doubtfully

The Shuttles were equipped with 3 RS-25 engines. The fuel and oxidizer tank was attached to the outside.

And now 4 of the same engines are used in the first stage of their super-heavy rocket SLS.
SLS has already successfully launched the Orion spacecraft to the Moon in November 2022.

The stupidest thing was to send everything to the landfill

The Americans committed a stupidity by building the Shuttle with a launch cost 7 times more expensive than originally planned - and then using this super-expensive system for another 30 years.

But after the first launch, we already realized that it was too expensive, and there were too few tasks for it, and we didn’t waste any more money.

[dump22]

the flight of an orbital spacecraft cost tens of times more than launching a Soyuz rocket, and therefore the project was considered unprofitable

Because of this, the Americans closed their Shuttle program - it was unprofitable.

Because on average one launch cost them $450 million.
And initially, when designing, they planned that the launch cost would be no more than $60 million.
We miscalculated 7.5 times!

[75 Sergey]

"Buran" is the first AI.
Of course, if only a few years earlier, I think there would have been a place for using the Energia launch vehicle!
One thing I don’t understand is why we had to develop new launch vehicles, what was wrong with Energia?

[ivan2022]

What is "Buran"? Our own atomic bomb generally brought only losses......
And the army and navy are not profitable organizations in any country in the modern World. But only our bosses thought of this.

Yes - sir.... One thing is still not clear, how could such a society even survive into the 21st century?
General Minich was right..., even though he lived in the 18th century. Here the matter could not have happened without the intervention of the Heavenly Forces.......

[DenVB]

I will repeat what I have already written many times: Buran was useless. There may have been some use for it in the 1970s (although I have a hard time imagining what it was), but by the early 90s there was none.

But the fact that they threw out “Energy” along with “Buran” is a monstrous carelessness. We still don’t have another rocket of this class.

[Sergey Valov]

“The blizzard was useless. Perhaps they saw some use for it in the 1970s” - Buran could return large cargo from orbit. Buran was primarily a military project, and the military has a peculiar attitude towards money (I’m talking about efficiency).

[Repellent]

Quote: Sergey Valov

Buran was primarily a military project

There was a snowstorm only and exclusively military project.

[Rumata]

Quote: DenVB

Buran was useless.

Helpful. It’s like the Panama Canal, where thousands of investor-shareholders went bankrupt, some shot themselves, but it was a huge step forward and after many years it began to generate enormous profits.
It would be the same with Buran. Maybe his next generation would be better than all the Musks today.

[Rumata]

Quote: DenVB

There may have been some use for it in the 1970s (although I have a hard time imagining what it was), but by the early 90s there was none.

“Perhaps in the 1970s they saw some use for it (although I can hardly imagine what)” One of the main tasks, besides reconnaissance, is the launch of a nuclear weapons carrier into orbit in the event of an aggravation of the international situation. Is it really difficult to guess?
“by the beginning of the 90s” An amazing, unique opportunity that no one has yet and no one knows when it will happen - repairs in the huge cargo compartment of satellites or their descent from orbit and repairs on the ground. But this is already hundreds of billions of profits.

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Quote: Rumata

One of the main tasks, besides reconnaissance

Which he couldn't do

Quote: Rumata

launching a nuclear weapons carrier into orbit in the event of an aggravation of the international situation

And what, an ordinary union could not be tolerated? :)))))

Quote: Rumata

Is it really difficult to guess?

Sorry, but what you wrote is infinitely far from reality

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Quote: DenVB

Buran was useless

That's right. However, the set of technologies and experience that we gained as a result of its creation moved us forward on the path of manned space exploration. Buran itself, yes, was only suitable for various experimental flights, but this was a step up...

[DenVB]

Quote: Andrey from Chelyabinsk

However, the set of technologies and experience that we gained as a result of its creation moved us forward on the path of manned space exploration.

It's hard to argue with that. And the Energy created together with Buran is part of that very “set of technologies”. Moreover, if Energia had continued to fly, sooner or later the issue of creating high-power solid propellant boosters, like on the Shuttle, would have been resolved. Another important step in the development of our space technologies. But, as I already noted, Energy and all the prospects that it opened were wasted.

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Quote: DenVB

But, as I already noted, both Energy and all the prospects that it opened up were wasted.

I completely agree. It was Energy that gave results, if not “here and now”, then infinitely close to this, and if the stop in the development of manned astronautics can still not be forgiven, but can be understood as a consequence of the collapse of the country, then THIS...

[pettabyte]

Quote: DenVB

Buran was useless.

Anyway, the ability to, say, take out a satellite and pick up another one for maintenance (or bring the cargo to MIR and pick up the cargo later) is useless?
But military use is also possible...

[Volunteer Marek]

Yes, unfortunately, we can only be proud of the past achievements of our Motherland.

[Pavel57]

A dead-end line with huge wasted costs. There were alternatives, but give the management no worse than those over the hill.

[Rumata]

There was no money found to further finance the program. In addition, the flight of an orbital spacecraft was tens of times more expensive than launching a Soyuz rocket, and therefore the project was considered unprofitable.

A little different. The main purpose of Buran, as well as the Shuttle, is military. Profitability has nothing to do with it.
Perestroika began and the generals mercilessly killed the project. They needed money for dachas decorated with black marble. One of my friends was building, for which he was given the first form of secrecy.

[vovochkarzhevsky]

Perestroika began and the generals mercilessly killed the project.

Flight November 15, 1988. Perestroika began in 1986, however, work continued. The program itself was closed in 1993.

[militarist63]

Flight November 15, 1988. Perestroika began in 1986, however, work continued. The program itself was closed in 1993.

Did you want it to be closed in the first month of perestroika?! Gradually we got to this project. Regarding the issue of closing the program in 1993, you probably don’t know that Gorbachev wanted to kill the Energia-Buran project back in 1987! And neither Energia nor Buran might never fly! In 1987 (literally before the launch of Energia) Gorbaty flew to us at Baikonur and Leninsk... When he was brought to the launch stand, he immediately told General Designer Glushko that the Politburo would not allow the launch of this rocket! This was the first call!
Then, finally (everything was already ready), there were those who convinced him and the launches and flights took place, to which Gorbachev was very indifferent... And the program was closed in 1993 only officially, but in fact the work was stopped in the year 1990, even before the collapse of the USSR. And with the collapse of the USSR, the Baikonur Cosmodrome and the city of Leninsk began to be completely destroyed (to put it mildly), not to mention individual projects...

[vovochkarzhevsky]

Did you want it to be closed in the first month of perestroika?! Gradually we got to this project. Regarding the issue of closing the program in 1993, you probably don’t know that Gorbachev wanted to kill the Energia-Buran project back in 1987! And neither Energia nor Buran might never fly! In 1987 (literally before the launch of Energia) Gorbaty flew to us at Baikonur and Leninsk... When he was brought to the launch stand, he immediately told General Designer Glushko that the Politburo would not allow the launch of this rocket! This was the first call!
Then, finally (everything was already ready), there were those who convinced him and the launches and flights took place, to which Gorbachev was very indifferent... And the program was closed in 1993 only officially, but in fact the work was stopped in the year 1990, even before the collapse of the USSR. And with the collapse of the USSR, the Baikonur Cosmodrome and the city of Leninsk began to be completely destroyed (to put it mildly), not to mention individual projects...

Lice words are just assumptions. And if they decide to close the program, then they close it and that’s it. Without any swings. And work on this program continued until the destruction of the USSR, for which the Russian Federation is also to blame.
Just as you might think, it was the leadership of the Russian Federation that closed the program and this shameful fact will remain with it forever.

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Quote: Rumata

A little different. The main purpose of Buran, as well as the Shuttle, is military. Profitability has nothing to do with it.

You are completely wrong. The purpose of the Shuttle was an epoch-making money grab, because it was precisely positioned and pushed into the USA IN REPLACE for disposable cheap launch vehicles. It is clear that the creation of the Shuttle was a step forward for the Americans, just as Buran was for us, but this did not make the American space scam any less serious

[BedMax]

I found it from those times. We were with Buran too!

[BedMax]

Here, I took some from a friend

[Pavel57]

Who downvotes comments about the uselessness of Buran. Give the advantages of this program, besides the enthusiasm “they could have done it.”

[BedMax]

Some kind of dissonance).
.................