19 Jun
2000
19 Jun
'00
9:02 a.m.
--- Douglas Quebbeman
<dhquebbeman(a)theestopinalgroup.com> wrote:
Now that you've said it, I do recall Dmitri called it the "Buran";
it was some other reference lost to memory that called it the
"Snowflake"... I always ASS-U-MEd Buran == Snowflake...
-dq
Ok, here's a quote from one of my favorite
computer scientists
(Tom VanVleck...
The quote is from an article of his on the Multicians web site:
http://www.multicians.org/thvv/evolution.html
I left my last job as a full-time programmer in 1990. A young
Russian (who had written some of the software tools used in
generating the control programming for Snowflake, the never-used
Soviet space shuttle)
I've seen the Buran (sitting in Gorky Park at the moment). I've never
heard it called "Snowflake". Is this the same bird? The Buran flew
once, unmanned, and is now a tourist attraction, rotting away in the
Russian weather. I have some pictures I can scan if anyone cares. 
19 Jun
19 Jun
9:46 a.m.
FWIW:
I remember it this way
Buran = Blizzard.
Buran was nearly identical to our shuttle.
sorta a cheaper looking knock-off.
Buran never flew.
A smaller (probably unmanned) capsule was
flown, and photographs released.
This was a one man sized lifting body
similiar to our ```Steve Austin''' type
deals from the 60's.
Snowflake = small Blizzard? I don't know.
John A.
P.S. found some fascinating links here:
http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/craft/buran.htm
http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/flights/buran5.htm
10:12 a.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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BeOS Powered!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
8805
days inactive
8805
days old
2 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
-
dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com -
jim＠calico.litterbox.com -
John.Allain＠donnelley.infousa.com