Skip to main content

Buran in the spotlight

  • Chapter
Energiya—Buran

Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books ((SPACEE))

  • 1228 Accesses

Abstract

By 1988, twelve years after the approval of the Energiya—Buran program, the stage was finally set for the Soviet space shuttle to make its orbital debut. While earlier test flights of piloted spacecraft had been prepared in utter secrecy and conveniently disguised under the all-embracing “Kosmos” label, the Russians no longer had the luxury of doing the same with Buran. Times had changed after General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachov’s rise to power in the spring of 1985. The new policy of glasnost was sweeping through all ranks of Soviet society, including the country’s space program.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Radio Moscow World Service, 30 January 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  2. P. James, Soviet Conquest from Space, New Rochelle: Arlington House Publishers, 1974, pp. 125–142.

    Google Scholar 

  3. M. Houtman, “Albatros: De Sowjet Shuttle”, Spaceview, July 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  4. G. Sinyaryov et al., “Space transportation system Albatros” (in Russian), in: K.E. Tsiolkovskiy i nauchno-tekhnicheskiy progress, Moscow: Nauka, 1982, pp. 38–41; S. Reznik, “Student design organizations and interdisciplinary projects in the field of rocket and space technology” (in Russian), paper presented at the 31st Academic Readings on Cosmonautics in Moscow, January–February 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  5. The Soviet Space Program. National Intelligence Estimate, NIE 11-1-83, Volume II: The Estimate, 18 July 1983, p. V–10.

    Google Scholar 

  6. C. Covault, “Soviets Build Reusable Shuttle”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 20 March 1978, pp. 14–15.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Soviet Military Capabilities and Intentions in Space. National Intelligence Estimate, NIE 11-1-80, 6 August 1980, pp. 32–34.

    Google Scholar 

  8. T. Furniss, “Soviet shuttle claims doubted”, Flight International, 24 May 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  9. J. Oberg, “Soviet shuttle mysteries”, Aerospace America, June 1987, pp. 24–28.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Soviet Reusable Space Systems Program: Implications for Space Operations in the 1990s (An Intelligence Assessment), 1 September 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  11. K. Vasilchenko, G. Lozino-Lozinskiy, G. Svishchev, “The Road to Buran” (in Russian), Pravda, 24 November 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  12. N. Dombrovskiy, “Space orbits of a canard” (in Russian), Sovetskaya Rossiya, 17 May 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  13. P. Pesavento, “Russian Space Shuttle Projects, 1957–1994. Part 2”, Spaceflight, June 1995, p. 194.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Soviet Capabilities and Intentions for Permanently Manned Space Stations. An Intelligence Assessment, 1 November 1982, p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Soviet Military Power 1983, Washington, D.C.: US Department of Defense, 1983; C. Covault, “Soviets Building Heavy Shuttle”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 14 March 1983, pp. 256–258.

    Google Scholar 

  16. The Soviet Space Program. National Intelligence Estimate, NIE 11-1-83, Volume II: The Estimate, 18 July 1983, p. V–8.

    Google Scholar 

  17. “Soviet Shuttle, Heavy Booster in Serious Development Trouble”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 27 May 1985, pp. 21–22.

    Google Scholar 

  18. “Soviet Shuttle”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 1 December 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  19. “Soviets Demonstrate Flight Readiness with Firing of Heavy-Lift Booster”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 6 March 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  20. C. Covault, “USSR’s Reusable Orbiter Nears Approach, Landing Tests”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 3 December 1984, pp. 18–19.

    Google Scholar 

  21. C. Covault, “Soviets Begin Orbiter Tests Following Engine Installation”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 14 April 1986, pp. 16–17.

    Google Scholar 

  22. J. Oberg, op. cit.

    Google Scholar 

  23. D. Fink, J. Lenorowitz, “Soviets Fly Jet-Powered Space Shuttle Testbed”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 12 October 1987, p. 23.

    Google Scholar 

  24. The Soviet Space Program. National Intelligence Estimate, NIE 11-1-83, Volume II: The Estimate, 18 July 1983, p. V–8; R. McKie, “Space ‘breakout’ race”, The Observer, 2 September 1984; E. Stevens, J. Witherow, “Russian Snowstorm to Blast US in Space Race”, The Sunday Times, 11 January 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Soviet Reusable Space Systems Program: Implications for Space Operations in the 1990s (An Intelligence Assessment), 1 September 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Y. Golovanov, “Just where are we flying to?” (in Russian), Izvestiya, 12 December 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Y. Semyonov, Mnogorazovyy orbitalnyy korabl Buran, Moscow: Mashinostroyeniye, 1995, p. 45.

    Google Scholar 

  28. S. Grachov, “Energiya-Buran: The swan song of Soviet cosmonautics or the thorny path to space?” (in Russian), Aviatsiya i vremya, 2/2005.

    Google Scholar 

  29. “Buran Expands Soviet Ability to Orbit Large Payloads”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 21 November 1988, p. 22.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Y. Semyonov, Raketno-kosmicheskaya korporatsiya Energiya 1946–1996, Moscow: RKK Energiya, 1996, p. 385.

    Google Scholar 

  31. N. Kidger, “The Soviet Shuttle Story”, Spaceflight, January 1990, pp. 4–6.

    Google Scholar 

  32. “Government Production Decision Awaited in Additional Space Shuttle Orbiters”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 5 June 1989, p. 95.

    Google Scholar 

  33. “The turbojet engine installation” (in Russian), on-line at http://www.buran.ru/htm/ vrdu.htm; letter by former Energiya-Buran chief designer I. Sadovskiy at http://www.buran.ru/htm/sadovsky.htm# vrdu

    Google Scholar 

  34. V. Mokhov, “Module for Buran” (in Russian), Novosti kosmonavtiki, 23–24/1998, pp. 69–70.

    Google Scholar 

  35. B. Gubanov, Triumf i tragediya Energii (tom 3), Nizhniy Novgorod: Izdatelstvo Nizhegorodskogo instituta ekonomicheskogo razvitiya, 1998, pp. 292–293.

    Google Scholar 

  36. B. Gubanov, op. cit., pp. 404–405. [37] E. Vaskevich archives. [38] Y. Semyonov, Mnogorazovyy orbitalnyy korabl Buran, op. cit., pp. 376–379; Y. Semyonov, Raketno-kosmicheskaya korporatsiya Energiya 1946–1996, op. cit., pp. 383–384, 390, 591; B. Gubanov, op. cit., pp. 404, 416–417.

    Google Scholar 

  37. B. Gubanov, Triumf i tragediya Energii (tom 4: Polyot v nebytiye), Nizhniy Novgorod: Izdatelstvo Nizhegorodskogo instituta ekonomicheskogo razvitiya, 1999, p. 190.

    Google Scholar 

  38. B. Gertz, “Soviet shuttle might upstage U.S. comeback”, The Washington Times, 20 September 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Radio Moscow World Service, 26 October 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  40. A. Tarasov, “At the last minute” (in Russian), Pravda, 29 October 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  41. James Oberg Cosmogram, 8 November 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  42. C. Covault, “Soviet Space Shuttle Prepared for Second Launch Attempt”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 1 November 1988, p. 26.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Memoirs of Andrey Lavrentyev, on-line at http://www.buran.ru/htm/memory 10.htm

    Google Scholar 

  44. B. Gubanov, (volume 3), op. cit., pp. 416–432; V. Filin, Put k Energii, Moscow: Logos, 2001, pp. 179–184; V. Gudilin, “Take-off and landing of Buran” (in Russian), on-line at http://www.buran.ru/htm/gudilin.htm

    Google Scholar 

  45. “Soviets Pushed Shuttle Launch in Bad Weather”, Soviet Aerospace, 5 December 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Memoirs of Andrey Lavrentyev, op. cit. Apparently, for reasons that are not entirely clear, each scrub required a relatively lengthy turnaround time, especially after the tanks had been loaded with propellant.

    Google Scholar 

  47. B. Gubanov, (volume 4), op. cit., pp. 6–7; V. Filin, op. cit., pp. 185–187; V. Gudilin, op. cit.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Y. Semyonov, Mnogorazovyy orbitalnyy korabl Buran, op. cit., pp. 404–425; B. Gubanov, (volume 3), op. cit., p. 422; N. Johnson, The Soviet Year in Space 1988, Colorado Springs: Teledyne Brown Engineering, 1989, pp. 39–43, 110–112; B. Hendrickx correspondence with Chris van den Berg.

    Google Scholar 

  49. A. Tarasov, “First launch of Buran” (in Russian), Pravda, 16 November 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  50. “Flight programme for Buran on 29 October 1988” (in Russian), on-line at http:// www.buran.ru/htm/program.htm

    Google Scholar 

  51. A. Andryushkov, “First and last meeting” (in Russian), Vestnik aviatsii i kosmonavtiki, 28 March 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  52. V. Filin, op. cit., p. 190.

    Google Scholar 

  53. “Thedescent and landing trajectories of the orbital ship Buran” (in Russian), on-line at http://www.buran.ru/htm/algoritm.htm

    Google Scholar 

  54. Mission description compiled from: Y. Semyonov, Mnogorazovyy orbitalnyy korabl Buran, op. cit., pp. 432–435; B. Gubanov, (volume 4), op. cit., pp. 9–11; S. Grachov, “Energiya-Buran: The swan song of Soviet cosmonautics or the thorny path to space?” (in Russian), Aviatsiya i vremya, 4/2005; various press reports.

    Google Scholar 

  55. V. Lukashevich, “First flight” (in Russian), on-line at http://www.buran.ru/htm/ mtkkmain.htm

    Google Scholar 

  56. V. Lukashevich, “Last interview with G.E. Lozino-Lozinskiy” (in Russian), on-line at http://www.buran.ru/htm/lastin.htm

    Google Scholar 

  57. J. Wilford, “Soviet Shuttle Faces U.S.-Style Criticism, International Herald Tribune, 23 November 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  58. J. Langone, “Sunny Debut for Snowstorm”, Time, 28 November 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  59. J. Wilford, “U.S. Experts Say Soviet Shuttle Strongly Recalls U.S. Design”, International Herald Tribune, 17 November 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  60. “Soviet Shuttle Success”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 21 November 1988, p. 9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Praxies Publishing Ltd, Chichester, UK

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

(2007). Buran in the spotlight. In: Energiya—Buran. Springer Praxis Books. Praxis. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73984-7_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73984-7_7

  • Publisher Name: Praxis

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-69848-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-73984-7

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics