19 Jun
2000
19 Jun
'00
3:12 p.m.
FWIW:
I remember it this way
Buran = Blizzard.
Yup.
Buran was nearly identical to our shuttle.
sorta a cheaper looking knock-off.
They even admit to having bought a set of the shuttle plans when Nasa was
selling them.
Buran never flew.
A smaller (probably unmanned) capsule was
flown, and photographs released.
Bzzt. Buran flew once in an automated test flight. Unfortunately the Soviet
economy collapsed before they could really make use of their shuttle. In some
ways it's a better design than the US shuttle - especially its liquid fueled
Energea booster instead of the more dangerous solid fueled boosters used on
the US shuttle. Advantage? You can turn it OFF.
--
Jim Strickland
jim(a)DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com
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