Soviet space shuttle could bail out NASA, page 1

www.russiatoday.com...
The Soviet-era Buran space programme, mothballed 20 years ago, may be revived. With NASA about to retire its ageing fleet of space shuttles, there is a pressing need for viable space transport.
Two decades ago the Soviet space shuttle Buran blasted off on its first and only orbital flight. Just a few years later, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the programme was shelved.

...

Buran technologies may make an unexpected return to the space industry as well.

Because NASA will soon retire its ageing space shuttle fleet, some American and Russian scientists are beginning to think of ways to revive the Buran programme.

It may be more economical than developing an entirely new spacecraft from scratch.

---

Mod Note: External Source Tags – Please Review This Link.

Mod Note: No Quote/Plagiarism – Please Review This Link.

Mod Note: Starting A New Thread – Please Review This Link


[edit on 16/11/08 by Jbird]

Originally posted by sunny_2008ny
It may be more economical than developing an entirely new spacecraft from scratch.

I would have thought the opposite. To revive a project like that after 15 years of doing nothing with it? I think it would be rather difficult to get it going again, but I could be wrong. What is your source for this info anyway?

The Buran and the Energia booster were great pieces of hardware though and it's too bad that they were cancelled when the USSR collapsed.

For those wanting to find out more about the Buran. Here is a good site to start with. www.buran-energia.com...

reply to post by jra

---

www.russiatoday.com...

heres the site.

The buran still had the orbiter strapped to the side of the main booster where it could be hit by any debris or icing coming off the main booster. I know energia apparently didn't use exterior foam, but it would have had icing all over its cryogenic fuel tank then. I think this may have lead to serious nose tile damage that is visible in the post-landing photos of the only complete buran flight:
www.buran.ru...
Buran is more powerful, but is it really worth all the reinvestment to build new ones and rebuild all the infrastructure when it still suffers from the many of the same safety issues?

NIBIRU AT LAST?? Brazilian Astronomer claims have found rogue planet hidden behind Neptune.
  Posted 12 days ago with 49 member flags

New object near the sun. Video is up. It\'s coming out of the sun. Zoomed in better.
  Posted 12 days ago with 27 member flags

Is an unseen planet skirting edge of our solar system?
  Posted 4 days ago with 27 member flags

ISS call to NASA Reveals \'ENTITY Growing in Size\'; 2 Bright Beams Energy/Light directed AT our Sun
  Posted 16 days ago with 26 member flags

33 Amazing pictures of planet earth taken by Astronaut Andre Kuipers from space
  Posted 8 days ago with 26 member flags

Planet hiding behind Neptune
  Posted 12 days ago with 24 member flags

SOMETHING MASSIVE ON THE SUN!!! Yep sunspot AR1476...An Amateur photo (That’s me!)
  Posted 12 days ago with 23 member flags

Calling all Moon Hoaxers Hubble is staring at the Moon!
  Posted 19 days ago with 20 member flags